Structuring the argument of a theoretical paper For bachelor’s theses and master’s seminars in 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 Last update: 28 May 2012

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 Last update: 28 May 2012

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 Last update: 28 May 2012

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”) Last update: 28 May 2012

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 dimension If 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 aspect1aspect2aspect3 Last update: 28 May 2012

Main section Subtopic 1 Subtopic 2 … Last update: 28 May 2012

Subtopic 1 Formulate it carefully Explain or define any technical terms Relation to main topic should be clear Last update: 28 May 2012

Subquestion 1 Corresponds to the subtopic Add a brief explanation Clarify relation to main question Last update: 28 May 2012

Summary of research 1 A detailed treatment with many references! empirical and theoretical humanities and sciences articles and books different languages Last update: 28 May 2012

(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 Last update: 28 May 2012

Subthesis 1 An answer to your subquestion Unitary: just one claim Supports your main thesis Supported by convergent evidence Last update: 28 May 2012

Main evidence for subthesis 1 Repeat the main points Show that the evidence for the subthesis is stronger than the evidence against it Last update: 28 May 2012

(repeat the last few slides for every subtopic) Last update: 28 May 2012

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 Last update: 28 May 2012

Main question Just repeat it – the audience has forgotten Last update: 28 May 2012

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? Last update: 28 May 2012

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? Last update: 28 May 2012

Main evidence Repeat main evidence from all subtopics that support the specific formulation of your thesis No new detail here! Last update: 28 May 2012

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! Last update: 28 May 2012

Methodological limitations Consider only cited empirical studies Do their limitations reduce plausibility of thesis? Might they bias thesis in a particular direction? Last update: 28 May 2012

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! Last update: 28 May 2012

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 Last update: 28 May 2012

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 Last update: 28 May 2012

References List of cited literature in standard format >20 point is ok, but only here Last update: 28 May 2012