Planning and Drafting

Planning and Drafting

• Planning: Before you start drafting, it's helpful to create a plan for your paper. This could be a traditional outline, a mind map, or a storyboard. The plan will help you organise your thoughts and ensure that your argument flows logically.  

• Drafting: When drafting, focus on getting your ideas down on paper. Don't worry too much about grammar or style at this stage. You can revise and refine your writing later.  

• Introductions: Start your paper with an introduction that grabs the reader's attention and introduces your topic and research question. You can also briefly state your main claim or argument in the introduction.  

• Background Information: Provide any necessary background information on your topic, such as defining key terms, outlining relevant historical or literary contexts, or summarising existing research.  

• Organising Your Argument: Organise the body of your paper logically. You might structure it by theme, by chronology, or by different aspects of your argument. Use clear topic sentences and transitions to guide the reader through your ideas.  

• Evidence and Analysis: In literary research, evidence often comes from the text itself. Use quotations, summaries, and paraphrases to support your reasons and claims. Analyse the evidence you present, explaining how it supports your argument and what it reveals about the text.  

• Conclusions: Conclude your paper by restating your main claim and summarising your key arguments. You can also suggest further avenues for research or reflect on the broader implications of your findings.  

Example:

To begin drafting my research paper on Klara and the Sun, I would start by creating a plan that outlines the structure and organisation of my argument.  This plan could be a simple outline or a more visual storyboard, whichever helps me best visualise the flow of my ideas. I would then start drafting, focusing on getting my thoughts and arguments down on paper without getting too caught up in the finer details of wording or style.  My introduction would briefly introduce the novel and my research question, possibly hinting at my main claim about Klara's narrative voice.  I would then provide some background on the novel, including its context and key themes, before moving into the main body of my argument, where I would present my reasons and supporting evidence from the text.  I would analyse the textual evidence, explaining how it supports my claims about Klara's narrative voice and its function in the novel. Finally, my conclusion would summarise my main points and suggest potential implications or further research questions.  

Preparation Activity: Planning and Drafting

Reading: Chapter 10: Planning and Drafting

Instructions:

1. Review and Consolidate: Gather all the work you've done so far in this course. This includes your chosen topic, research question, problem statement, the core of your argument, potential warrants, evidence, and any relevant source materials.

2. Plan Your Structure: Develop a detailed plan or outline for your research proposal. Consider the sections you'll need (introduction, literature review, methodology, expected outcomes, etc.) and how you'll organise your argument within this structure.

3. Draft an Introduction: Write a draft of your introduction. Include the key elements: context, problem statement, and proposed solution or response. Aim for a clear and engaging opening that draws the reader into your research.

4. Draft a Conclusion: Write a draft of your conclusion. Restate your main claim, summarise your key arguments, and suggest potential implications or further research.

5. Draft Key Sections: Begin drafting key sections of your research proposal, focusing on those where you have the most developed ideas and evidence. Remember to incorporate and analyse your source materials effectively.

6. Submission: Submit a draft of your research proposal, including the introduction, conclusion, and at least two key sections of the body.

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Class Outline: Planning and Drafting

Objectives:

• Guide students in developing a plan and structure for their research proposals.

• Provide practical advice and strategies for drafting clear and persuasive proposals.

• Offer feedback and support on students' draft introductions and conclusions.

Activities:

1. Recap: Briefly review the elements of a research argument, emphasising the importance of clear organization and persuasive writing.

2. Planning Your Structure

   • Discuss different ways to structure a research proposal.

   • Provide examples of effective proposal outlines from various humanities disciplines.

   • Guide students in developing their own proposal structures, considering their specific research questions and arguments.

3. Drafting Introductions and Conclusions

   • Review the key elements of effective introductions and conclusions.

   • Provide examples and discuss strategies for writing engaging openings and strong concluding statements.

   • Have students share their draft introductions and conclusions in small groups for peer feedback.

4. Drafting Key Sections

   • Discuss strategies for effectively incorporating and analysing source materials in research proposals.

   • Provide guidance on writing clear and concise prose, using evidence to support arguments, and maintaining a logical flow of ideas.

   • Have students work individually or in pairs to draft key sections of their proposals, with the professor circulating to offer support and feedback.

5. Wrap-up: Summarise key takeaways from the session, emphasising the importance of planning, drafting, and revising to produce a strong research proposal.

Reading for Next Week: Chapter 11: Revising and Organising