How to write a history research paper |
Posted: January 23, 2019 |
1. How do I choose a theme? 2. But I can not find any material ... 3. Help! How can I put this together? Research guide and writing guide How do I choose a theme?
Choosing a topic is perhaps the most important step in writing a research paper. Doing it well requires several steps of refinement. First, you must determine a general area in which you are interested (if you are not interested, your readers will not be either). However, he does not write an article "about the Civil War", since it is such a large and vague concept that the document will be too superficial or will be flooded with information. The next step is to reduce your topic. Are you interested in the comparison? battles? social change? politics? causes, biography? Once you reach this stage, try to formulate your research topic as a question. For example, suppose you decide to write an article about the use of movies from the 1930s and what they can tell historians about the Great Depression. I could turn that into the next question: "What are the main values ??expressed in the films of the 1930s?" Or you can ask a quite different question: "What is the level of life represented in the movies of the 1930s?" Of course, there are other questions you could have asked, but these two clearly illustrate how different two articles on the same general topic might be. By asking yourself a question to start research on a topic, you will help find the answers. You also open the door to load the evidence one way or another. It will help you decide what kind of evidence might be relevant to your question and can also distort perceptions of a topic. For example, if you ask a question about economics as motivation, you are not likely to learn much about ideals, and vice versa. 3. Help! How can I put this together?
A. Research guide B. Writing guide
RESEARCH GUIDE
A. Preliminary investigation: If you still do not have a general background on your topic, get the most recent general source on the subject and read it for general guidance. Based on that reading, ask a question as clearly focused as you can. Generally, you should discuss with your teacher at that time if your question is feasible.
B. Constructing a basic bibliography: Use the bibliography / notes in your first general source, MUSE, and especially the historical summaries on a CD-ROM in the Reading Room of the library (the computer furthest to the left in the front row when it passes through the reference desk , or ask there). If there is a specialized bibliography on your subject, you will surely want to consult that too, but they are often a little outdated.
C. Building a complete bibliography: Read recent articles or chapters that seem to focus better on your topic. This will allow you to focus your research question a little. Use the sources cited and / or discussed in this reading to build a complete bibliography. Use tools such as historical summaries (or, depending on your subject, summaries of a different field) and a comprehensive and convenient national computer library catalog (for example, the University of California system of the "Libs" command in your VAX account or the smaller library of the University of Minnesota through MUSE) to review your sources completely. For specific searches of articles, "Discover" (press to get "open access") or possibly (less likely for history) "First search" through "Connect to other resources" in MUSE can also be useful.
D. Important research: Now do most of your research. But do not overdo it. Do not fall into the trap of reading and reading to avoid starting with writing. Once you have as much information as you need, start typing. You can fill the smallest gaps of your research more effectively later. WRITING GUIDE
A. Scheme: Write a preliminary thesis statement, stating what you think your main arguments will be. Draw a broad outline indicating the structure: main points and subpoints or your argument as it seems at this time. Do not stop too long at this point.
B. The first draft: Based on this thesis and outline statement, start writing, even pieces, as soon as you have enough information to begin. Do not wait until you have filled all the research gaps. Keep writing. If you encounter smaller research questions, simply mark the text with a search symbol. It is important that you try to reach the end point of this writing as soon as possible, even if you leave the pieces still in outline form at the beginning and then fill in the spaces after reaching the end.
Critical tips for bigger jobs: It is often more effective not to start at the point where the beginning of your article will be. Especially it is better to leave the introductory paragraph until later, when you feel ready and inspired.
C. The second draft: The "second draft" is a completely revised and rewritten version of your document. It is at the heart of the writing process.
First, leave your first draft aside for a day or more to gain distance from it. After that break, read it with a critical eye as you would with someone else's paper (well, almost!). You will probably find that your first draft is still quite descriptive, rather than argumentative. It is likely to wander; his perspective and, in general, even the thesis seemed to change / develop as he wrote. Do not despair That's perfectly normal even for experienced writers (even after 40 years and a lot of published works). You will be frustrated. But keep questioning your article in the following lines: What exactly are my key questions? What parts of my evidence here are really relevant to those questions (ie, does it help me answer them)? How or in what order can I structure my document more effectively to answer those questions in the clearest and most efficient way for my reader? D. The third or last draft: Now you are ready to verify the basic rules of good writing. This is when you need to verify the diction, that is, the accuracy and suitability of the words. Eliminate unnecessary constructions of passive or clumsy names (active voice, verbal constructions are usually more effective); improve the flow of your transitions; Avoid repeating or dividing infinitives; Correct apostrophes in possessives and others. Make the style clear and smooth. Check that the beginning of your article is interesting for the reader. Last but not least, eliminate the unnecessary verbiage and palaver. Spell checker and proofreading.
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