how to integrate research into your analysis

How to Integrate Research into Your Analysis

Purpose:

1)To show that you have engaged with other people’s views on your topic and your text

2)To increase the sophistication of your argument and analysis by integrating information and ideas that you have drawn from your research

The integration of research entails:

1) Summarising the information, idea or argument drawn from your research

2) Explaining how this information, idea or argument is relevant to your own argument and analysis

How to Integrate Research into Your Analysis

Integrating Research:1) Cite the title and author; e.g., “In The Empire

Writes Back, Ashcroft et al. argue that…”2) Summarise the author’s main point in 1-2

sentences; e.g., “In The Empire Writes Back, Ashcroft et al. argue that postcolonialism is fundamentally concerned with the relationship between language and power.”

3) Connect the research to your own analysis; e.g., “This relationship is also central to my chosen text, The Wild Sargasso Sea.”

How to Integrate Research into Your Analysis

Structure of Paragraphs:

1) Put your idea(s) first; i.e., begin each paragraph with the main point you wish to make (aka topic sentence); e.g., “Language and power are central to understanding The Wild Sargasso Sea.”

2) Follow topic sentence with the integration of research; e.g., “In The Empire Writes Back, Ashcroft argues …”

3) Follow research with analysis of techniques, evidence & effect; e.g., “The power of language is conveyed through the use of symbolism, which can be seen…”

How to Integrate Research into Your Analysis

Example:Language and power are central to understanding The Wild Sargasso Sea. In The Empire Writes Back, Ashcroft et al. argue that postcolonialism is fundamentally concerned with the relationship between language and power. This relationship is also central to my chosen text, The Wild Sargasso Sea. The power of language is conveyed through the use of symbolism, which takes several forms. The most important symbol is of course the sea itself. The author writes “…” etc. etc.

How to Integrate Research into Your Analysis