structuring the argument of a theoretical paper for bachelor’s theses and master’s seminars in...

Structuring the argument of a theoretical paper

For bachelor’s theses and master’s seminarsin social sciences and humanities

Richard Parncutt, Uni Graz

What to do• Read the guidelines

– Internet: “Structuring the argument of a theoretical paper”

• Insert your materials into this ppt file– Quality not quantity!

• Include 2-4 subtopics – Each with the same structure

• Present this ppt file in class– After the talk, revise this ppt (based on comments)

• Create a regular talk with content-based headings– That can also be presented in class

• Write and submit bachelor’s thesis or seminar paper– The grade will depend on content, clarity, structure etc.

Last update: 28 May 2012

Introduction

• Example• Main topic• Terminology• Academic background• Main question• Context and relevance• Possible theses• Approach


Example

• Sound, video, story, demonstration etc.• Specific person, situation, anecdote• Illustrates and introduces• Direct, specific relationship to main topic• Links theory to reality• Finding it is difficult, allow time for it!• Precede and follow by short explanation• May be different for written version of paper• See separate guideline on use of examples


Main topic

• Same as main title of paper• Concise, carefully formulated• In a course unit: address course topic• Explain or define technical terms and

unusual usages


Academic background

• List the 2-4 most important disciplines for your topic, including both humanities and sciences

• Explain briefly (in just a few words) how and why researchers in these disciplines would approach this question differently, referring to different assumptions (often hidden or tacitly assumed!), traditions, epistemologies, or methods. Your tabular argument should include at least a few comments or tentative ideas on this, even if you are unsure.

• Cite relevant literature, but don’t get into detail

Last update: 11 March 2015

Main question

• Carefully and concisely formulated• Clarifies the aim of your paper• Corresponds to topic (may be more specific)• Not trivial (see “possible theses”)


Context and relevance

Why should we spend time and money on this question? (How would you convince a grant agency to give you 100,000 Euros for this project?)• Humanities approach: What is the social, cultural,

historical, political, or moral context?• Sciences approach: What is the potential (long-term?

sustainable?) benefit to human beings or society?

Last update: 12 November 2014

Possible theses• Each possible thesis should plausibly answer your main

question• One possible thesis (or similar) should later become

your main thesis• Generate the list by thinking logically about your main

question. Refer to everyday experience, not literature.

The possible theses should be independent (mutually exclusive) and diverse:• Include extreme or simplistic theses • Include theses lying between these extremes• Vary theses along more than one dimensionIf you can’t do this, your thesis is too trivial!

Last update: 12 Nov 2014

Approach•Explain the structure of the main section•Label subtopics concisely (just one word?)

The simplest structure is best! Subtopics should•be independent (not overlap)•vary in just one way, e.g. – different disciplinary approaches– different aspects of the research object

Main question

aspect1 aspect2 aspect3Last update: 28 May 2012

Main section

• Subtopic 1• Subtopic 2• …


Subtopic 1

• Formulate it carefully• Explain or define any technical terms• Relation to main topic should be clear


Subquestion 1

• Corresponds to the subtopic• Add a brief explanation• Clarify relation to main question


Summary of research 1

A detailed treatment with many references!• empirical and theoretical• humanities and sciences• articles and books• different languages


(Note on graphs and diagrams)

• Redraw!– Include only directly relevant detail– Avoid copyright problems

• Be simple and direct!– Clearly label axes– Explain axes in caption– Avoid 3-D graphs – Color for ppt– b/w for written paper, avoid gray


Subthesis 1

• An answer to your subquestion• Unitary: just one claim• Supports your main thesis• Supported by convergent evidence


Main evidence for subthesis 1

• Repeat the main points• Show that the evidence for

the subthesis is stronger than the evidence against it


(repeat the last few slides for every subtopic)


Conclusion• Main question• Main thesis with domain of validity• Main evidence and counterevidence*• Methodological limitations*• Return to introductory example*• Implications*• Further research*

*Include the exact formulation of your thesis in the heading of every slide after the first two


Main question

• Just repeat it – the audience has forgotten


Main thesis

• Best available answer to main question• Consistent with most presented evidence• The climax of your presentation!• Unitary (unifies the paper)• Not trivial (not obvious earlier! research was needed!)• Credible both with and without research• Perhaps even original, going beyond the literature?


Domain of validity

• Under what conditions or in what domain are you claiming that your thesis is true?

• Under what conditions do you expect it is not?


Main evidence

• Repeat main evidence from all subtopics that support the specific formulation of your thesis

• No new detail here!


Main counterevidence

• Refer specifically to your formulation of main thesis• List arguments that undermine it• Which alternative theses are supported by evidence?• Arguments against thesis should be weaker than for!


Methodological limitations

• Consider only cited empirical studies• Do their limitations reduce plausibility of thesis?• Might they bias thesis in a particular direction?


Return to introductory example

• Link main thesis to specific example• More from abstract back to concrete• Help your audience understand…

– example– main question

• Make testable predictions

NB:• Main thesis must apply to example!• Example must support main thesis!


Implications

What if your thesis really is true? • Link your thesis to external reality• Think creatively and laterally!

Implications for• social context: everyday life• historical, cultural, political, moral context• academic context: background disciplines • professional context


Suggestions for further research

• Which aspects of main question are still unclear?

• Refer to the exact formulation of your thesis!– not merely to your topic (too general)– not merely to methodological constraints

• Plan research that could confirm or challenge your main thesis


References

• List of cited literature in standard format• >20 point is ok, but only here


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