Finding a
suitable research topic (problem selection) is the most important and often the most difficult
task for an historian. The success of the final product (the term
paper or research essay) will depend on your personal interests but it
should also be appropriate for your audience. While the success of
your essay will be judged on its significance, rigor, and originality,
practical considerations must also be taken into consideration. In
writing an undergraduate essay, good topic selection involves an assessment
of your skills (for example, your research, writing, and language skills),
the availability of suitable materials, and a realistic assessment of time
constraints. Your topic must be relevant, appropriate, and manageable.
The following outline offers general principles and specific advice.
Arguably the
most trying element in the process is discovering or limiting what interests
you. Perhaps you have too many interests, perhaps none.
More likely, you have several general interests that can be developed
and focused. The problem is to identify them and bring them into
focus. Here are some standard questions:
1. What
is it about the four or five topic areas you have identified that seem
similar? Are there one or two themes that combine or link these interests?
2. How
can these unifying theme(s) be connected into an appropriate topic?
Can they be separated and developed as a single topic?
3. With
these themes clarified from your general topical interests, apply the
History Cookie Cutter: Narrow the
general thematic interests into specific topics by space, time, theme, & method (NB: Historians are often categorized (or self-identify) geographically; chronologically; topically, or by method.) Ask yourself if you can focus your thematic interests
into a more narrow geographical, chronological, or thematic category.
If possible, invoke methodological considerations (textual analysis,
quantitative analysis, etc.) to bring clarity and to narrow your topic. Your goal is to write an essay with a clear thesis supported by a strong
argument, good evidence, and telling historical examples.
So much for theory.
In large part the solution to your problem will require practice.
Good writing requires continuous, thoughtful effort. How do you do that?
1. Read actively, critically,
creatively. Take notes on what interests you. (See this WebSite
for suggestions under Teaching Resources).
2. Follow-up on topics and
themes by paying particular attention to footnotes. As we say, follow
the foot prints wherever they lead. For our His-Sci Courses, as an example of general kinds of reference and research sources, see
the following books at the library:
The Dictionary of Scientific
Biography
The ISIS Cumulative Bibliography
3. Next, go to my web page and click
the button HIS-SCI SEARCH. Search for the relevant word, name, concept
on the various search engines in both the biographical and the bibliography
programs.
4. Update your bibliography
then follow-up. Obtain copies of all articles and books that seem
relevant. Read them. Understand them. Make an outline.
5. As you obtain new materials
follow the new foot prints. They should lead to ever more specialized
sources that focus on your specific interests. This continual sifting
& winnowing is central to your research. It may extend into the
later stages of writing. Continue to read the new stuff but recognize
that some of the best stuff may be old stuff. It may have been written 50
years ago or more.
6. Now the task is to commit
yourself. You must have a clear and carefully focused thesis.
Continue to re-draft your outline. At the core of this exercise is
applying form to all of the stuff you have collected. So once again,
impose the Hatch-Mantra:
A. Develop a strong,
clear thesis
B. State your objectives
C. Construct a solid
and detailed outline (your essay should have a beginning, middle, and end).
Re-draft the outline daily as a ritual of clarification. Use this
daily procedure for organizing and integrating
your new findings, as a vehicle for critical and creative thinking.
Continually question your assumptions. Try to focus on the big picture and at the same time
note the small but telling historical examples. Good
writing joins the abstract and concrete, the particular
and general.
D. Marshall specific evidence
to support your argument. As you read take note of possible quotations. Be rigorous about proper scholarly citation. Be clear about your sources
and debts.
E. Use carefully selected
historical examples for your analysis of issues.
Issues are the key problems that give substance to your theme. Your
essay must be issue-driven; analytical in approach, it depends on argument and evidence. Critical issues
provide the skeletal structure of your essay; themes provide muscle
that give it form and movement. Telling examples bring it
to life.
Avoid simple description, the dull "then-came" narrative and the dubiously-dramatic. We have enough bad journalists. Focus on insightful issues
shaped by solid and creative forms of evidence. Write long then cut short. Most of us have a tendency to want to keep all those neat details that we find -- after all, those little factoids took a lot of effort to unearth. But don't do that. Keep your essay focused. Cut the fat. If necessary, carve some flesh -- consider whacking off an arm and a leg. On a daily average, we all absorb enough
verbal fat and advertising drivel to meet our annual requirement.
Scholarly writing should be sinewy, so write responsibly. Emphasize rigor, clarity, and substance.
7. Finally, don't quit, just
do it.
8. If questions
arise, review this outline again. Become self-reliant. Consider
again your initial interest in the topic. When things start to look messy (they once seemed so clear and simple) remind yourself about the questions
and issues that first brought you to the topic. What changed? Think creatively about how you can draw together abstract issues and concrete details. Verbalize. Write out
your questions and talk with friends.
Put the problem concretely on the table before you.
Break it into parts. View it from as many perspectives
as possible. Be creative, have fun with unexpected possibilities. If the
topic interests you it should be a good topic for conversation. You may be shocked how an outsider goes to the heart of the issue or provides a new perspective.
Finally, don't
fool yourself. Writing is hard work. If writing has value
it will challenge your soul. Make no mistake,
you will have to confront yourself, and that may involve bouts of self-doubt. But as the philosopher put it, no pain no gain. Be tough on yourself but keep encouraged. Focus
equally on extending your existing strengths as improving your increasingly
apparent weaknesses. That's the point. Learning to write is
like learning to be your best. You know. So, plan
wisely, enjoy the trip.
rah.xi.98-2005