How to Research Your Essay

[Ayinde]

RESEARCHING YOUR ESSAY

The title

If you are planning your own title, make sure you deal with only one aspect of a subject. Don’t make the subject too broad. If you are given a title, make sure you fully under-stand it before starting work. Remember that the titles of some essays can cover several lines and more than one sentence.

Example: GCSE Literature question

Lady Macbeth was a complex character who dominated her husband. With detailed reference to the text, show how she achieved her aims.

During both your preparatory work and the actual writing of the essay, it is essential that you refer frequently to the title so that you are not tempted to wander off the point.

Think about the following:

What is the title asking you to do?
Are there two parts to the question?
What research do you need to do?
What are the key words in the title?
Planning your research

The most obvious place to start your research is the library. Here you will find books on all topics classified by subject, magazines, newspapers and also archive material. Some of this may be on disk. Archive material is very useful if you wish to use ‘primary sources’ as they are called. These are original letters, diaries, books and periodicals. Librarians are usually very helpful so do ask if you are having difficulty finding something.

Visiting and interviewing

You may need to visit places and people to learn more about your topic. ‘Experts’ in their fields are usually very happy to be interviewed provided they are given plenty of notice. It is also courteous to write a thank-you note afterwards. Make sure your questions are relevant and you have written them down.

Making notes

Avoid copying down huge chunks of material. If you do, you might regurgitate it in your essay and be accused of plagiarism (passing someone else’s work off as your own). It will always be obvious to the marker when the work is not yours. To safeguard against this always ‘translate’ the original into your own words. Of course, you are entitled to quote directly from the text but in this case you must put quotation marks around the quote and acknowledge its source. (See Chapter 4.)

Briefly write down the facts that you will need to use. If there are examples from a particular text that you may need, make a note of the book and the page number so that you can refer back to it. Use headings for your notes as this makes it easier when you start to write the essay.

Sometimes your essay will not need any research. Perhaps you are sitting an examination and therefore have all the facts in your head; it might be a personal experience piece or something that you have to work out for yourself. Whatever type of writing you are doing you must make notes first. Write down quickly all the things that come into your head relating to the title. Sentences are not important at the moment. Words or phrases are sufficient. It is important to get everything down before you forget it.

Making a bibliography

Remember to keep a record of the books you use as you are usually required to identify your sources. Write a list of the books you have used stating the title, author, publisher and publication date. This is called a bibliography.

Planning the work

After your note-taking, it is essential to plan your essay. Your notes do not constitute the plan. They have to be organised.

Paragraph 1

Introduction.

Paragraph 2

Show her opinion of Macbeth by her response to his letter.

Her cruel delight at the King’s prospective visit.

Her domination of Macbeth when he enters.

Paragraph 3

She mocks Macbeth for his cowardice.

Shows herself to be without womanly feelings.

Forces him to do her will.

Berates him when he returns with the bloody knives.

Continues to mock him for his fear.

Paragraph 4

Banquet scene.

Reminds Macbeth of his duties.

Covers for him when he sees the ghost.

Berates him in private for his behaviour.

Paragraph 5

Summing up of ways she dominates.

She mocks him.

Her own actions.

Forces him to do her will.

Paragraph 6

Conclusion.

[Author]

Posts