The Research Process for Politics and History
Monica Fernandes Academic Skills Advisor
Objectives • Know what’s expected from you and your research process • Defining your thesis statement • Knowing where to find your research • Know how to work with your resources • Develop your authority and voice.
1. KNOW WHAT’S EXPECTED
Think critically! What does this mean? • Interrogating your sources • Constant questioning • Never accepting what you are told • Thinking out of the box CHALLENGE what you read and what you are told
Task Think of 2 reasons for and 2 reasons against this statement
War is a waste of money
What evidence did you use to support your statements? Who were the key authors you referred to? What were the key events you referred to?
Are you convinced of the points brought up? How would you challenge any of the points?
Be analytical By thinking critically, you will taking an analytical stance on your work. You’ll also become part of the academic community and the academic conversation
Good dissertations will: • Have a strongly defined and relevant topic • Reflect on themes arising from the relevant literature and relating them to the chosen research questions • Be clear, thorough and well structured response to this question • Be professionally constructed final document
The more writing you do now, the less you have to do at the end
2. KNOW YOUR THESIS STATEMENT
What’s your thesis statement? What is a thesis statement? – Central argument, – claim or – main point of your dissertation
Why is it important? • Develop your voice in your work • This will be done through evidence that you have read • You need to make informed decisions based on evidence and reasoning
What are the flaws in this argument? Globalisation is a 20th century phenomena. It affects all countries in the world. But it doesn’t help the poorer countries get richer, instead the richer countries benefit the most from globalisation. This leads to a terrible economy and corruption in the capitalist market.
Make sure your argument is strong Yes • Persuasively written... • Uses evidence to support points • Looks at a range of related arguments to support the main point
• •
• • •
No Uses emotive not objective language Mostly based on opinion Does not reflect both sides of the argument Makes assumptions Not an academic source
3. Find your resources
Know where to look… • • • • • • • •
Library website Databases Archives Journals (D C Watt Collection) Books Internet Special Collections- Katie Flanagan Subject Librarian- Sarah Wolfenden
Find your resources Know the power of Primary sources • These are sources that are unedited • Original documents • Normally written in the time period under investigation • Kind of like a time capsule!
Examples of Primary sources
Find your resources Secondary sources • These are sources that have been edited • They are analysis and interpretations of primary sources • They could be written after the allocated time period.
Examples of Secondary sources
What about newspapers?
Could we use one as a primary and secondary source?
Question your sources… • Is it a reliable source? • Is the information accurate? • Is it written by someone in the field?
Avoid
Quick think What are the dominant sources you are looking at for your dissertations and why? Write down between 3-5 key names of scholars whose work you will refer to in your dissertation
4. Develop your methodology
Note taking or note making? • Know the difference between note taking (lecture notes) and note making (notes you’ll use for revision and exams) • If you don’t make notes, you could experience lower grades and comprehension of your topic
Organise your notes Cues Main ideas Questions that connect points Diagrams Prompts to help you study
Notes Record notes here, using concise sentences Shorthand symbols Abbreviations Lists Leave lots of space between points
When: After class, during review
Summary
When: During class
Top level main ideas For quick reference When: After class, during review
Theory
Who?
When?
Paper
Theory of relativity
Albert Einstein
1905
“On the electrodynamics of moving bodies”
Operant Conditioning
BF Skinner
1938
“ ‘Superstition’ in the Pigeon”
Realism
Niccolo Machiavelli
1513
“The Prince”
Choose a method/s • See what works for you… • Try every method at least once
Be smart with your methodology Survey Preview Question Read Repeat Review
Why are you reading? Blurb, index, contents list Set goals for your reading
Read quickly: skim or scan Read for comprehension, notes Are your questions answered?
Know when to scan
skim
detailed reading
Reading Styles Scanning is: Reading to find specific information/sections. You don’t need to read or understand every word. Use scanning for • introductions • the first or last paragraph of chapters • concluding or summarising chapters • book indexes …and phone books
Reading Styles Skimming is: A fast reading technique used to obtain the gist of a piece of text. Use skimming for • previewing a selection of text prior to detailed reading • refreshing your understanding of the text following detailed reading …and Sunday papers
5. Develop your academic voice
Remember to synthesise • We can combine the arguments. • Even if you haven’t found any flaws, linking the work you’ve read and presenting them both to the reader still shows critical awareness.
Bad reasoning includes‌ 1. Irrelevant information 2. Illogical structure 3. Underestimating the context of your assignment 4. Biased work
Recognising Assumptions • Assumptions are unstated reasons • When is a point argued, and when is it assumed?
• Assumptions provide an opportunity to critique an argument • Conversely, some assumptions are necessary • What are reasonable assumptions?
Quick think Draw up a table with 2 columns…. Label one with ‘challenge’ and the other with ‘solution’ Challenge
Solution
What do you think the main challenges of your dissertation might be? Now swap with the person sitting next to you and come up with a solution to their challenge.
Next sessions 17 January- Writing academically in your dissertation 28 February- Finishing your dissertation • 11:00-13:00 in LC-B
For more help… • Check out the PH BBL tab and the ASK website • PH consultation times at MJ 234: – Thursday 11:30-13:00 – Friday 10:00-11:30
• Visit ASK appointments: – Monday- Friday 1-3 pm – Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5-6 pm (during term time) – Book online at: http://libcalendar.brunel.ac.uk/booking/ask
• Email:
monica.fernandes@brunel.ac.uk ask@brunel.ac.uk