Writing the research-theoretical text

Linda Lai

February 15, 2007

SM4140

The process of writing the research-theoretical text

*start with identifying the keywords for our project.

*the most important of the keywords should form and be included in the thesis statement.

*the thesis statement itself is the outline and summary conclusion of the research-theoretical text.

Keywords

Diversity

Hierarchy

Paradigm

↓Thesis (working thesis)

↓Work title

KeywordsDiversityHierarchyParadigm

(1) List all the keywords you can come up with for your project. Show the list of keywords to your classmates… How does the list sound? What kind of impression does it deliver? Very personal? Intellectual? Very institutional-oriented? Full of binary oppositions? Etc.

(2) Classify your key words (with the help of a divergent mind map), give a (class) name to the different types.

a/ do you have too few types or too many types? What “class names” are missing? Any need to add more classes?

b/ Within each class, any need to expand the number of keywords? Any need to reduce the keywords?

The collection of keywords are crucial as the list would give us a clearer picture of what compounds our project. It also alerts us to fill in the gaps.

KeywordsDiversity

HierarchyParadigm

“Hierarchy” means a structure of relations that shows what is higher and what is lower.Another way to use the keyword list to help you is to check whether they form a vertical

relationship Some keywords are simply synonyms of others… Some keywords elaborate other keywords and should be brought under them… Some keywords are examples of other keywords

The idea of “hierarchy” should help you to turn all your keywords from a list into a TREE.

This exercise is especially helpful if you have too many ideas and you want to find out what the one single (or several) idea(s) is (are) that is (are) central and cannot do without. The words at the top or first two lever of your trees are those that you must include in your thesis statement.

KeywordsDiversityHierarchy

Paradigm

While “hierarchy” shows vertical relation in the form of a tree, “paradigm” is a horizontal view of the inter-relation between the keywords.

The paradigm your keywords form can be imagined as: A venn diagram A process (journey) in steps a procedures Oppositional pairs, triads, … A sequence that shows a process of transformation

The point is NOT to form a paradigm for its own sake. It is an additional mental exercise to sharpen your understanding for your own project.

For those of you whose project involves multiple tasks and more than one objectives, this exercise challenge you to see the dynamic relation between the different tasks and maintain the right balance.

Now before discussing the purpose of a thesis, please:

1. Identify those keywords on your list that are inevitable, i.e. so important that they must be kept no matter what. Confine yourselves to 3 to 4 keywords.

2. Use the keywords you pick to form a complete sentence that summarizes the discovery of your project. This is your thesis.

Keywords

ThesisA complete sentence that describes a position.

The sentence should include the most important of the keywords.

The position contained in the thesis should be something that forms an argument and therefore needs justification / illustration / the creation of a work to explore it.

A thesis is comparable to the final conclusion or discovery of your GT.

[a tentative working thesis…]

Check your thesis…

*Is it a complete sentence?*Are all the keywords in significant positions of the sentenc

e?*Is this telling us too much?*Is any of the words used misleading?*Does the overall sentence give a fair impression of the typ

e of project you’re working on?

This is NOT just purely a writing exercise. It is a test of how clear you are already regarding the discovery of your project, and whether the theory, methods and argumentation hang together logically.

An example

The following is the thesis of Linda’s own Ph.D. dissertation:

Looking at the story of time (history) from a spatial approach, (1) I discover the city of HK and traces of cinema in 1934 (2) by taking a few virtual walks through a few main transportation routes. (3)

(1) This phrase describes the theoretical position I use: to invent a view of history that emphasizes space over time. This position decides the research and writing method I use, and the kind of material I need to study and collect. My theoretical position sets up space and time in contrast.

(2) This describes the outcome of my thesis. Emphasis is given to: a/ “discover” – my thesis demonstrates the process that takes me through to my conclusion, i.e. I did not begin with stating what I have discover; and b/ “traces” – which is a key theoretical position I argue for in contrast to realism in history-writing.

(3) This describes the methodology, also the writing (narrative) method of my dissertation: indeed, construct what I see and hear as I imagine myself walking through the main roads of HK in 1934. This also suggest the kind of raw material I collected in my archival research.

In italics are my keywords.

Research-theoretical text

A general statement (about 4 - 6 pages) describing the motive, creative concept and a summary of what you have achieved. Certainly, in the case of many projects, it may even be reasonable and necessary to describe how the project changes along the process and what you have learned with the changes. There is no standard way to write a research-theoretical text. But think of what may help a stranger in a few pages to grasp a general understanding of your work before s/he actually sees it. Think of how to prepare your potential audience in case your work is shown elsewhere and audience need a good introduction. To your advisers, it is a statement to re-assure them your work is based on in-depth research and grounded on some conceptual thinking you acquired at SCM.

outline

A research-theoretical text is a general statement (about 4 - 6 pages) describing the motive, creative concept and a summary of what you have achieved.

For a more thorough outline, you may consider:

(1) State your thesis.

(2) Background: what have you learned, experienced, and come across that take you to conceive your current project?

(3) What have people done who have a similar concern as yours? (This is also where to summarized the key theoretical or creative examples you have researched.)

(4) Your own approach: describe, methods, processes, …use anecdotes (little stories showing your experience) whenever relevant.

(5) What you have discover…/ important discoveries…

(6) Use theoretical terms and concepts to restate your motive, concept, method and discovery.

motive

Background

Purpose

Queries

Which of the keywords on your list belongs here?

creative concept

The work

Treatment to the work

Theories covered in your work

Which of the keywords on your list belongs here?

What you have achieved

The work produced…

The theories explored, debated…

Experience created…

The issues explored and your NEW insights…

Creative method you have invented…

What’s strong and special about your work?

Which of the keywords on your list belongs here?

It may even be reasonable and necessary to describe how the project changes along the process and what you have learned with the changes.

changes

process

what you have learned with the changes

To your advisers, it is a statement to re-assure them your work is based on in-depth research and grounded on some conceptual thinking you acquired a

t SCM.

based on in-depth research

Start early to select useful quotes from your theoretical and creative research… Cite them in your research-theoretical text.

conceptual thinking

It is a good test to describe your ideas with terms you have learned.

It is also a good exercise to try to come up with an analogy or a metaphor to describe the process and method of your work.

Think of what may help a stranger in a few pages to grasp a general understanding of yo

ur work before s/he actually sees it.

Use the simplest way possible to describe your theories. Use wordings that an ordinary person would understand.

a stranger’s position

Turn your theory into easy-to-understand questions.

e.g. “perception” Why do we call a circle the moon?

general understanding

Make connection between your work (exploration) and everyday life. Find the linkage

Ask Kimburley for sample essay…