Research methodology & writing a dissertation in English literature (UG-NEP 2020)
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Dr Elangbam Hemanta Singh
Contd from previous issue
A strong research paper contributes to literary scholarship by presenting an original argument supported by textual and critical evidence. Example of a Research Paper Writing Structure: Title: Symbolism and Romantic Ideals in John Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale.” The author’s detailed information. Abstract: explain scope, objective (s), methodology and major findings of the study comprising 250-300 words with 4-5 key words should be given before the main text. Then, the main text: Introduction including literature review and justification of the study: John Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale explores themes of transience, mortality, and the desire for transcendence. The paper should examine how Keats uses symbolism to contrast the ephemeral human experience with the nightingale’s eternal song. Hypothesis Statement: Keats employs rich imagery and symbolism to present the nightingale as a symbol of artistic immortality and the tension between reality and idealism. Body Paragraphs: 1.Symbolism of the Nightingale – Analysis of how the bird represents poetic inspiration. 2. Themes of Mortality and Escape Close reading of key stanzas. 3. Romantic Ideals–Comparison with other Romantic poets (Wordsworth, She-lley). Conclusion: Keats’ use of symbolism highlights the Romantic struggle between imagination and reality, reinforcing poetry’s role in transcending human limitations. Bibliography: Includes critical works on Keats and Romantic poetry (Abrams, 2015; Stillinger, 1999).
Style Manual for English Literature: A style manual for English literature provides standardized guide- lines for formatting, citation, and academic writing. The MLA Handbook (Gibaldi, 2009) is widely used for literary research, specifying rules for in-text citations, works cited pages, and manuscript structure. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) offers an alternative approach, espe- cially for historical and interdisciplinary studies (Turabian, 2018). These manuals ensure clarity, consistency, and academic integrity in research writing (Booth et al., 2016). Adhering to style guidelines enhances scholarly communication, making research accessible and credible within the academic community. A brief example of using a Style Manual in English Literature: In a scenario, a student is writing a research paper on William Blake’s The Tyger and needs to cite sources properly using the MLA Handbook guidelines. (1) Example of In-Text Citation (MLA 9th Edition):
Blake’s poem explores the paradox of creation, asking, “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (Blake, line 20). Example of Works Cited Entry (MLA Format): Blake, William. Songs of Experience. Oxford University Press, 2008. (2) Example of Chicago Style (Footnote Citation): William Blake’s The Tyger questions divine creation: “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”¹ [¹ William Blake, Songs of Experience (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 20.]
Below are examples of how to apply different style manuals—MLA (Modern Language Association), Chicago (CMOS), and APA (American Psychological Association)—for citing sources in English literature research.1. MLA Style (9th Edition): Used in Literary studies, humanities. In-Text Citation (MLA Parenthetical Style): For instance, Keats explores mortality and imagination in Ode to a Nightingale: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!” (Keats, line 61). Works Cited Entry (MLA Format): Keats, John. Selected Poems of John Keats. Penguin Classics, 2007. 2. Chicago Style (CMOS – 17th Edition) Used in Literature, history, and interdisciplinary studies. Footnote Citation (Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style): John Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale reflects on poetic immortality: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!”¹
[ ¹ John Keats, Selected Poems of John Keats (New York: Penguin Classics, 2007), 61] Bibliography Entry (Chicago Style):
Keats, John. Selected Poems of John Keats. New York: Penguin Classics, 2007. 3. APA Style (7th Edition) Used in Linguistics, applied literary studies, and psychology-based literary analysis: In-Text Citation (Author-Date Style): Keats (2007) explores poetic immortality in Ode to a Nightingale: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!” (p. 61).
Reference List Entry (APA Style): Keats, J. (2007). Selected poems of John Keats. Penguin Classics.
Notes, References, and Bibliography: Notes, references, and bibliographies are essential components of academic research, ensuring proper attribution and credibility. Notes (footnotes or endnotes) provide supplementary explanations or citations within the text (Turabian, 2018). References list all cited works, following a specific citation style such as MLA, APA, or Chicago (Gibaldi, 2009). Bibliographies include both cited and relevant sources, offering a broader research context (Booth et al., 2016). Proper citation practices prevent plagiarism, enhance scholarly discourse, and establish a study’s foundation. Mastering these elements is crucial for maintaining academic integrity in literary research. Brief example of Notes, References, and Bibliography in Literary Research: In a scenario, a student is writing a research paper on William Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey and needs to cite sources properly using (1) Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography format). Example of a Footnote (Chicago Style): Words-worth’s poem reflects his deep connection to nature: “These beauteous forms, Through a long absence, have not been to me, As is a landscape to a blind man’s eye.”¹ [¹ William Wordsworth, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, in Lyrical Ballads (London: J. & A. Arch, 1798), 85.] (2)Example of a Reference (In-Text Citation - MLA Style): Wordsworth highlights the transformative power of nature: “A motion and a spirit that impels all thinking things” (Wordsworth, line 100). Works Cited Entry (MLA Style): Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. J. & A. Arch, 1798.
Research and Ethics: Documentation and Plagiarism: Ethical research practices require proper documentation and the avoidance of plagiarism, ensuring academic integrity and intellectual honesty. Documentation involves citing sources accurately using recognized style guides (MLA, APA, Chicago) to credit original authors (Gibaldi, 2009). Plagiarism, the unethical appropriation of another’s work without acknowledgment, can lead to severe academic consequences (Lipson, 2008). Ethical research demands proper paraphrasing, quotation, and citation techniques (Booth et al., 2016). Universities enforce strict policies to uphold these standards, fostering responsible scholarship. Mastering documen- tation methods strengthens the credibility of research and upholds the integrity of academic discourse. The writer is Head, Dept of English & Research Guide (MU). Ideal Girls’ College
Contd from previous issue
A strong research paper contributes to literary scholarship by presenting an original argument supported by textual and critical evidence. Example of a Research Paper Writing Structure: Title: Symbolism and Romantic Ideals in John Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale.” The author’s detailed information. Abstract: explain scope, objective (s), methodology and major findings of the study comprising 250-300 words with 4-5 key words should be given before the main text. Then, the main text: Introduction including literature review and justification of the study: John Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale explores themes of transience, mortality, and the desire for transcendence. The paper should examine how Keats uses symbolism to contrast the ephemeral human experience with the nightingale’s eternal song. Hypothesis Statement: Keats employs rich imagery and symbolism to present the nightingale as a symbol of artistic immortality and the tension between reality and idealism. Body Paragraphs: 1.Symbolism of the Nightingale – Analysis of how the bird represents poetic inspiration. 2. Themes of Mortality and Escape Close reading of key stanzas. 3. Romantic Ideals–Comparison with other Romantic poets (Wordsworth, She-lley). Conclusion: Keats’ use of symbolism highlights the Romantic struggle between imagination and reality, reinforcing poetry’s role in transcending human limitations. Bibliography: Includes critical works on Keats and Romantic poetry (Abrams, 2015; Stillinger, 1999).
Style Manual for English Literature: A style manual for English literature provides standardized guide- lines for formatting, citation, and academic writing. The MLA Handbook (Gibaldi, 2009) is widely used for literary research, specifying rules for in-text citations, works cited pages, and manuscript structure. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) offers an alternative approach, espe- cially for historical and interdisciplinary studies (Turabian, 2018). These manuals ensure clarity, consistency, and academic integrity in research writing (Booth et al., 2016). Adhering to style guidelines enhances scholarly communication, making research accessible and credible within the academic community. A brief example of using a Style Manual in English Literature: In a scenario, a student is writing a research paper on William Blake’s The Tyger and needs to cite sources properly using the MLA Handbook guidelines. (1) Example of In-Text Citation (MLA 9th Edition):
Blake’s poem explores the paradox of creation, asking, “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (Blake, line 20). Example of Works Cited Entry (MLA Format): Blake, William. Songs of Experience. Oxford University Press, 2008. (2) Example of Chicago Style (Footnote Citation): William Blake’s The Tyger questions divine creation: “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”¹ [¹ William Blake, Songs of Experience (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 20.]
Below are examples of how to apply different style manuals—MLA (Modern Language Association), Chicago (CMOS), and APA (American Psychological Association)—for citing sources in English literature research.1. MLA Style (9th Edition): Used in Literary studies, humanities. In-Text Citation (MLA Parenthetical Style): For instance, Keats explores mortality and imagination in Ode to a Nightingale: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!” (Keats, line 61). Works Cited Entry (MLA Format): Keats, John. Selected Poems of John Keats. Penguin Classics, 2007. 2. Chicago Style (CMOS – 17th Edition) Used in Literature, history, and interdisciplinary studies. Footnote Citation (Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style): John Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale reflects on poetic immortality: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!”¹
[ ¹ John Keats, Selected Poems of John Keats (New York: Penguin Classics, 2007), 61] Bibliography Entry (Chicago Style):
Keats, John. Selected Poems of John Keats. New York: Penguin Classics, 2007. 3. APA Style (7th Edition) Used in Linguistics, applied literary studies, and psychology-based literary analysis: In-Text Citation (Author-Date Style): Keats (2007) explores poetic immortality in Ode to a Nightingale: “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!” (p. 61).
Reference List Entry (APA Style): Keats, J. (2007). Selected poems of John Keats. Penguin Classics.
Notes, References, and Bibliography: Notes, references, and bibliographies are essential components of academic research, ensuring proper attribution and credibility. Notes (footnotes or endnotes) provide supplementary explanations or citations within the text (Turabian, 2018). References list all cited works, following a specific citation style such as MLA, APA, or Chicago (Gibaldi, 2009). Bibliographies include both cited and relevant sources, offering a broader research context (Booth et al., 2016). Proper citation practices prevent plagiarism, enhance scholarly discourse, and establish a study’s foundation. Mastering these elements is crucial for maintaining academic integrity in literary research. Brief example of Notes, References, and Bibliography in Literary Research: In a scenario, a student is writing a research paper on William Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey and needs to cite sources properly using (1) Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography format). Example of a Footnote (Chicago Style): Words-worth’s poem reflects his deep connection to nature: “These beauteous forms, Through a long absence, have not been to me, As is a landscape to a blind man’s eye.”¹ [¹ William Wordsworth, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, in Lyrical Ballads (London: J. & A. Arch, 1798), 85.] (2)Example of a Reference (In-Text Citation - MLA Style): Wordsworth highlights the transformative power of nature: “A motion and a spirit that impels all thinking things” (Wordsworth, line 100). Works Cited Entry (MLA Style): Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. J. & A. Arch, 1798.
Research and Ethics: Documentation and Plagiarism: Ethical research practices require proper documentation and the avoidance of plagiarism, ensuring academic integrity and intellectual honesty. Documentation involves citing sources accurately using recognized style guides (MLA, APA, Chicago) to credit original authors (Gibaldi, 2009). Plagiarism, the unethical appropriation of another’s work without acknowledgment, can lead to severe academic consequences (Lipson, 2008). Ethical research demands proper paraphrasing, quotation, and citation techniques (Booth et al., 2016). Universities enforce strict policies to uphold these standards, fostering responsible scholarship. Mastering documen- tation methods strengthens the credibility of research and upholds the integrity of academic discourse. The writer is Head, Dept of English & Research Guide (MU). Ideal Girls’ College