RESH8411

LO1: Describe the factors to consider

when writing a chapter outline.

LO2: Discuss the importance of

organising research in terms of:
• Themes
• Chronological order

LO3: Explain the purpose of a chapter

outline.

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 ARTICLE:
Australian National University Chapter
structures’

Click here to access the prescribed

material.

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 Without a clear organizational pattern, your
Why is it reader could become confused and lose interest.
The way you structure your essay helps your
important to
readers draw connections between the body
organise the and the thesis, and the structure also keeps you
presentation focused as you plan and write the essay.
Choosing your organizational pattern before you
of research? outline ensures that each body paragraph works
to support and develop your thesis.

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 Chronological Order
cchronological order is most appropriate for the following purposes:
Writing essays containing heavy research
Writing essays with the aim of listing, explaining, or narrating
Choosing your organizational pattern
Writing essays that analyze literary work.
before you outline ensures that each
body paragraph works to support and
develop your thesis.
Order of Importance
When you begin to draft your essay, your
ideas may seem to flow from your mind order of importance is best used for the following purposes:
in a seemingly random manner. Persuading and convincing
Ranking items by their importance, benefit, or significance
A solid organizational pattern gives your
Illustrating a situation, problem, or solution
ideas a path that you can follow as you
develop your draft. Knowing how you will
organize your paragraphs allows you to Spatial Order
better express and analyze your
thoughts. Planning the structure of your spatial order is best used for the following purposes:
Helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it
essay before you choose supporting
Evoking a scene using the senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound)
evidence helps you conduct more Writing a descriptive essay
effective and targeted research.

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When using chronological order, arrange the events in the order that they actually happened, or will
happen if you are giving instructions. This method requires you to use words such as first, second,
then, after that, later, and finally. These transition words guide you and your reader through the paper
as you expand your thesis.
When using chronological order, your introduction should indicate the information you will cover and
in what order, and the introduction should also establish the relevance of the information.

Eg. 1 Think of the achievement of your LLB degree. How did you reach this goal?

Eg. 2 Comparison between SA and USA Contract Law = you would begin with its conception and detail
the essential timeline events up until present day. You would follow the chain of events using words
such as first, then, next, and so on.
Most essays move from the least to the most important point, and the paragraphs are arranged in an
effort to build the essay’s strength. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to begin with your most
important supporting point, such as in an essay that contains a thesis that is highly debatable. When
writing a persuasive essay, it is best to begin with the most important point because it immediately
captivates your readers and compels them to continue reading.

Eg. 1 Think about a passion of yours. If someone asked you why are you passionate about ABC, you
would be able to list your reasons from highest to lowest importance.

Eg. 2 Diversion in SA as a deterent to crime. You would want to present your most convincing
argument first, and then move on to the less important points for your case.
As the writer, you create a picture for your reader, and their perspective is the viewpoint from which
you describe what is around you.
The view must move in an orderly, logical progression, giving the reader clear directional signals to
follow from place to place. The key to using this method is to choose a specific starting point and
then guide the reader to follow your eye as it moves in an orderly trajectory from your starting point.

Eg. 1 If I asked you to describe your house, you would guide me through your house from your
perspective and describe it in such a way that I am convinced to see it from your perspective.

A bit tricky for law... but can be done perhaps in a comparative study.
As the writer, you organise your research into themes or sub-topics.

Most relevant to law and to your research paper.

 The way you organize your body paragraphs ensures you and your
readers stay focused on and draw connections to, your thesis
statement.
A strong organizational pattern allows you to articulate, analyze, and
clarify your thoughts.
Planning the organizational structure for your essay before you begin
to search for supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective
and directed research.

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 An outline is a general explanation or description of
something.

Therefore, you are giving your reader a general explanation

or descroption of each chapter that the reader will find in
your research paper.

To guide and keep your reader focused and show how you
are building your argument to ultimately answer your
research question.

CHAPTER What am I actually doing and why?

OUTLINE?

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 Have an introduction that indicates the
01 chapter’s argument / key message

Clearly address part of the thesis’ overall

02 research question/s or aim/s

To make your chapter easy

Use a structure that persuades the reader
03
to read, it needs an
introduction, body and of the argument
conclusion. The
introduction should give an
overview of how the
Have a conclusion that sums up the
04
chapter contributes to
your thesis. chapter’s contribution to the thesis and
shows the link to the next chapter

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 intro body conclusion

Give an overview of how the Develop the key message Sums up the
chapter contributes to your logically and persuasively. chapter’s contribution
thesis. In a chapter The sequence of sections to the thesis and
introduction, it works well to and ideas is important to shows the link to the
explain how the chapter developing a persuasive and next chapter.
answers or contributes to clear argument. When
the overall research outlining your chapter,
question. That way, the carefully consider the order
reader is reminded of your in which you will present the
thesis’ purpose and they information.
can understand why this
chapter is relevant to it.

TIP: A good way to test out the persuasiveness and logic of your chapter is to talk it over with a friend or
colleague. Try to explain the chapter’s purpose and argument, and give your key reasons for your argument.
Ask them whether it makes sense, or whether there are any ideas that weren’t clear.

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Topic:

Environmental Law -
Marine Eco-Systems in SA
Intro - tell reader what I'm doing in this
chapter and why.
Environmental
Conclusion - tell reader what I've done Law generally.
and how this contributes to the paper.
Then tell reader what is coming in next
chapter. in the world
in SA

Chapter 2:
Discussion of the
literature review

Marine eco-
Effect of the lack
systems
of legislation on
eco-system in the world
in SA
Intro - tell reader what I'm doing in this
chapter and why.

Conclusion - tell reader what I've done International

and how this contributes to the paper. Environmental
Then tell reader what is coming in next
chapter. Law

Chapter 3:
Legislation

Laws related to National

Environmental
eco-system
Law
 L04: Organise sources referred to in a
proposal into a bibliography.

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 ONLINE TEXTBOOK:
Bezuidenhout R-M, Davis C, Du Plooy-
Cilliers F. (2014) pp. 314 – 318

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 Reference List - list of all sources used in the
paper.

Bibliography Bibliography - list of all sources used in the

paper, but also those not referenced by read in
vs Reference the preparation of the paper.
List

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 The most important element in a research exercise.
Without a bibliography, the work is in essence useless.
While this may sound extreme, it is true that research
without fact checking is worthless.
No professor or referee will accept a thesis or research
paper without citation and citation is incomplete without a
bibliography or reference page.
One of the reasons behind citing sources and compiling an
extensive and logical bibliography is to prove that you have
done some valid research to back up your logic and claims.
Readers of the thesis can refer to the citation in the
bibliography and then go look up the material themselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY? Why is it important?

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 All information related to the source
Author
Editor
Title
Yr of publication
Publication info

Alphabetical Order

Sources must be in alphabetical order according to author's surname.

Referencing Different Sources

Sources should be categorised into primary and secondary sources.

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 LO5: Criticise and amend a
hypothetical research proposal.

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 A structured, formal document that explains what you
plan to research (i.e. your research topic), why it’s worth
researching (i.e. your justification), and how you plan to
investigate it (i.e. your practical approach).
The purpose of the research proposal (it’s job, so to
speak) is to convince your research supervisor,
committee or university that your research is suitable
(for the requirements of the degree program) and
manageable (given the time and resource constraints
you will face).

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 Your proposal needs to clearly articulate your research
topic. This needs to be specific and unambiguous. Your
research topic should make it clear exactly what you
plan to research and in what context.

EXAMPE Topic: An investigation into the efficacy of s21

of the Children's Act for fathers in the Western Cape of
South Africa.

As you can see, this topic is extremely clear. From this

one line we can see exactly:
What’s being investigated – the efficacy of s21 of
the Children's Act
Who it involves – fathers
In what context – in the Western Cape of SA

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 Need to justify why your proposed topic is
important. In other words, what value will it add to
the world if you manage to find answers to your
research questions?

Topic needs to be useful and value-creating – and

you need to convey that value in your proposal.

Go back to example topic in previous slide... why is

this topic useful or valuable?

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 How will you undertake your research?
Is your research design appropriate for
your topic?
Is your plan manageable given your
constraints (time, money, expertise)?

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 This varies tremendously,
depending on the university,
the field of study and the
level of the degree.

Consider the total word

count.

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 No right or wrong way... as long as you've got the key
factors.

Check template and LRPR MM.

Introduction to your study.

Draft a paragraph on the research objectives.
Formulate research questions in line with your
research topic.
Draft the problem statement.
Summarise the assumptions of the study.
Briefly set out the research methodology used to
complete the study.
Draft chapter outlines.
Bibliography

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