4.4 Four Phases from Start to Finish

Module 4

Page 4 of 6

Please start by watching the video below on time management, which also introduces the four phases of research and writing. Further on this page, we will discuss in some more detail what you have to do in each of the four phases.

Activities in Phase 1 - Orientation

  • Find your topic and your supervisor
  • Start your bibliography (see below)
  • Undertake broad research of the area, get to know the surroundings of the topic
  • Develop a tentative thesis statement / hypothesis
  • Confirm your topic and tentative thesis statement with your supervisor (possibly already in a modified / limited version)

Activities in Phase 2 - Research

Four Phases From Start to Finish. This diagram was described in the video at beginning of the page.

  • Read all available sources to the point that
    • you have seen all pertinent sources (confirm with your supervisor)
    • arguments and/or data become repetitive/redundant
  • Code your sources for quick and easy reference to specific passages of specific books or articles (e.g. S1 #15 for the 15th idea or argument = margin number in the paper by Smith with the number S1)
  • Use the Active Reading system for the reading and coding (see below)
  • Enter all arguments and/or data into your Mind Map (see below)
  • Develop your own line of arguments and structure of the paper = Develop what you will write, step by step

At the end of Phase 2 you MUST have a pretty clear idea of what your paper will look like and how you will go about supporting your hypothesis (which may have undergone modifications/re-phrasings on the way)

Activities in Phase 3 - Writing

Note that the writing phase starts before the research phase is over.

  • In the first half of phase 3 you write more or less unconnected passages, building blocks to be organized later.
  • The cut-off point is a very important self-limitation: No more running around for new sources after this day! (unless you find a reference that seems to be the answer to all remaining questions and is referred to by more than one of your current sources; be pragmatic, not ideological…)
  • When you reach the cut-off point, you should fix the final structure / table of contents / succession of points and arguments of your paper. No more changes of any fundamentals after this day!
  • Be sure to get feedback from your supervisor about the structure, table of contents (i.e. what is in the paper and what is not), succession of points, and approximate length of each chapter at this time.
  • In the second half of the writing phase, put the different bits and pieces written previously into the right order and then fill in the gaps one by one.
  • When you get stuck in one part, work on another.

Plan to have a week or so for the sticky parts at the end of phase 3, the parts where you got stuck before and left gaps to work on other and easier parts. Now you have to go and fill the gaps. Sometimes that may be easy, given that you have written most of the rest. Sometimes it will still be hard and time consuming. 

Be smart about saving and printing your text; don’t be stingy. Be sure to carefully date all files and print-outs. Remember that all electronic versions of your document could be affected by computer problems (virus) but in a worst-case scenario, a hard copy can be scanned or re-typed and won't be lost.

Activities in Phase 4 - Editing

  • You should finish the writing phase about 2-3 weeks before your due date (Ha ha ha? No, seriously!)
  • Then you should take 3-7 days of break. At the very least you should not look at your paper nor any of your sources and notes. Ideally you should go off on a short vacation. Get your mind off your paper.
  • If possible, ask a friend to read your paper during the break, i.e. an educated lay-person. Whatever he or she cannot understand may need to be re-phrased.
  • If possible, get feedback from your supervisor at this stage.
  • Then you should take a week to go over your text for final editing, mainly linguistic, but also for the required format. Fill in missing information in footnotes, complete the bibliography, ensure consistent format of all footnotes and bibliographic entries...
  • BUT PRIMARILY, go over your sentences with a critical eye. Read your text aloud. If you get stuck in a sentence, it is probably too long or otherwise hard to understand!
  • Don’t touch the structure at this stage, unless the order of entire sub-chapters can be easily reversed and the like or the supervisor requires major changes. This is fine-tuning now, not re-organizing!
  • Give specific attention to bridge-sentences or transitions between chapters, and to your introduction and conclusions.