Methods and techniques of research and academic writing
pp. 499-507
in: Martin Middeke, Timo Müller, Christina Wald, Hubert Zapf (eds), English and American studies, Stuttgart, Metzler, 2012Abstract
An essential part of studying English is writing. Students of English not only find themselves on the receiving end of information about English language and literature, but they also need to produce various texts as part of course and exam requirements. A scholarly text in English studies has to include several features to be accepted by professors and university teachers: clear statement of topic and thesis, transparent structure, thorough research, argumentative style, precise terminology, clear language, and appropriate form. This chapter will touch upon these standards in more detail and give students important guidelines for their academic writing projects from start to finish. The following sections will therefore introduce students to (1) preparing and planning a longer essay or term paper in English Studies, (2) conducting efficient research (see also the "Study Aids' entry VII.2), (3) writing a structurally sound and rhetorically effective paper, as well as (4) formatting an academic paper according to common stylistic conventions. If you follow the principles presented here, academic writing will not be the daunting task it might appear to be at first, but a rewarding intellectual activity of communicating knowledge and insight.