So, you need to write a research project!
You have some ideas, your supervisor gave you guidelines, topics, clicks, bites and what else. You have already read something on the topic, you might even be well aware of developments in the literature, but – there`s always a but...
Are my questions, hypothesis clear? What do I need to know in order to be able to start my research? Will my research contribute to anything? Is my theoretical approach right? Which method is best in order to answer my questions? Heavens! What are questions, hypothesis, theory, method? And what in hell is research for?
IF YOU find yourself in a similar situation, this class is for you!
With more than 15 years of experience on writing, conducting research projects and mentoring research projects, I want to offer you an eye-to-eye, tailored discussion on your research proposal.
We will discuss whatever you have in hands (from scattered fragments and broken pages, to already more elaborated written ideas or still those mysterious feedbacks from your supervisor), and look for unseen loops, unnecessary digressions, missed or overstated arguments. We will see what is working and which threads are worth to pursue further, and which to let go.
Rather than give you a professorial class on what is a question, a method, theory or research itself, I will offer you a direct hands-on approach to writing YOUR project. With a mix between those uniquely valuable peer-to-peer discussions and a more careful pedagogical work, we will tackle whatever questions you have, and explore in a more realistic way what a research project is made of and why it is so important.
How does it work?
Bellow, I offer you two categories of classes. In both of them we will be focusing on what I consider to be the three most important pillars of a good research project:
1. Understanding what our question really is (what is your container);
2. Mapping our bibliographical sources (what are your tools); and
3. Sorting out our ‘data’ sources (what are your raw materials).
My approach brings theory and method as the spice of our research project, something that should be well dosed – not too much, not too little, just enough to give the flavour to your project and help you better understand the uniqueness of your research.
* S.O.S Combo
You have been some ideas in your mind, and have been reading some relevant literature, but you feel you’re going too wide on the literature, or your questions are too blurry, your possible raw material undefined, your theoretical approach sketchy – and let’s not talk about methodology!
We will schedule two 90min sessions + a 60min reading in-between:
In the FIRST session, you will (a) tell me all you have in your head (you can send me little fragments and ideas you might have written as well), what is your topic, the questions you imagine, where and how you propose to research it, etc. After scratching the surface, (b) we will try to elaborate at least one of those questions, thinking about possible answers and their ‘consequences’, both methodologically and theoretically. Finally, (c) we will look together for specific bibliographical sources that relate to one or more of your questions. We will select one or two most relevant papers to read and discuss in our second encounter.
In the SECOND class, we are going to (a) discuss the paper(s), peeling of its main arguments and tapping into its theoretical-analytical approach in order to (b) return to your topic and try to elaborate some new questions and (c) a clear, step-by-step list of how to continue on your own.
At the end of these two sessions, you will be able to sit down, find and read relevant material to your topic, and start writing your first draft.
* Insanity-check Combo
You have a fairly structured research project, possibly with some feedback from your supervisor. You believe your questions are good, you have some bibliographical references and your raw material is in check. All you need is an insanity check in order to move on, rewrite your project and think more clearly on your methods and theoretical consequences of your research.
We will schedule two sessions, of 30min and 60min + 90min reading in-between:
In the FIRST session, you will guide me through your project, tell me about why your choose that topic, why you are interested in it, what are questions, methodological and theoretical ideas. I want to have a first impression of your research project, before I read it.
In our SECOND session, after I have read your project and any other related document you might find relevant for me to read, I will give you a full feedback of your project. If you have your supervisor feedback, I will also give you feedback about that and try to clarify where you feel necessary. I will give particular attention to the weaving between your questions and the literature review, on one side, and on the other side, that between methodology and theoretical framework. Finally, I will offer you a clear scheme of how to proceed to review and rewrite your proposal if it’s necessary. I will also help you and offer you a guideline to ensure you have a strong and well focused map of your literature review, one which you can use to further your research in the future.
At the end of these two session, you will have a better view of some underlying aspects of your research project, and will be able to extend your knowledge about your topic with more precision. Finally, you will be ready to start writing your final draft.
Who am I?
A committed social scientist, MA and Ph.D in Anthropology, completed 4yrs post-Ph.D in political anthropology. I have conducted four different research projects, all of them focusing in southern African communities and dealing with an array of distinct topics (religious syncretism; memory and identity; local and state politics; literary practices; history making; power and authority). During my studies I have built a very consistent and broad theoretical and ethnographic knowledge, particularly, but not only, when it comes to the interdisciplinary field of African studies (a complex literature in which I feel very comfortable and able to navigate with full proficiency). I am a very experienced researcher (with more than 3 years of fieldwork experience in southern Africa), acquainted with all kinds of qualitative methods, from interviews, ritual analysis, archival work and social media research. I have much experience writing, assessing and tutoring research projects; peer-reviewing academic papers (including American Anthropology, Caderno de Estudos Africanos, among others); participating in thesis commission board; and as a university professor. Mentoring and teaching is truly my passion, and with a very consistent and mature knowledge of the literature you can expect a most precise, competent assistance.
