Purpose: Equip students with concrete guidance for crafting every element of research writing, from Title to References, ensuring critical positioning, methodological coherence, and epistemic rigor.
Description & Objectives
Focus on philosophy of language and contemporary research writing practices for doctoral scholars.
Focus:
Fundamental language concepts: Interpretation, translation, metaphor, names, demonstratives, reference, and description.
Advanced topics: Speech acts, truth-meaning interface, epistemology applied to research.
Practical application: Dissertation and thesis writing, publication-ready research manuscripts.
Outcomes
By the end, students will be able to:
Identify key thinkers in linguistics and philosophy of language.
Apply philosophical and epistemological theories to analyze research data.
Develop argumentative writing skills for academic research.
Navigate writing challenges with strategies for drafting and redrafting theses/dissertations.
Produce a coherent, evaluable dissertation, including:
Introduction
Literature review
Research methodology
Analysis/Discussion
Conclusion
I. Framing the Study
1. Writing the Title of a Research Paper/Thesis/Project
Goal:
Balance precision (clearly describing your research) with impact and discoverability (findable, memorable).
Convey topic, scope, and theoretical orientation in one concise line.
Core Components:
Focus: The central idea, concept, or phenomenon you are studying.
Example: Metaphorical Framing
Context: The domain, corpus, or setting of the study.
Example: YouTube Political Discourse
Theoretical Lens: The framework guiding your analysis.
Example: Critical Discourse Analysis
Techniques & Strategies:
Colon Strategy: Use a short, engaging hook before the colon, followed by a technical description.
Example: Digital Polarization: A Linguistic Analysis of YouTube Political Debates
Avoid Vagueness: Titles like “A Study of Politics” are too broad.
Keyword Optimization: Include 2–3 important terms to aid searchability and indexing.
Word Limit: Keep under 15 words for clarity and punch.
Tone: Precise, academic, but not overly jargon-heavy.
Tips for Mastery:
Test readability: Can a fellow scholar grasp your topic at a glance?
Align title with research questions and objectives.
Make it unique but transparent, signal novelty without ambiguity.
Optional: Consider metaphorical or conceptual hooks if suitable, but ensure they are clarified by the subtitle.
Quick Checklist:
Does it clearly reflect the research focus?
Does it indicate context or corpus?
Does it signal the theoretical lens?
Is it concise (<15 words)?
Does it include keywords for discoverability?
Avoid ambiguous terms like Study, Analysis, or Research without specifics.
2. Writing the Introduction of a Research Paper/Thesis/Project
Goal:
Position your study within the scholarly conversation.
Highlight relevance, gap, and your unique contribution.
Guide readers naturally from context → problem → solution.
Framework: CARS Model (John Swales) — Create A Research Space
Move 1 — Establish Territory
Explain why the field is important.
Summarize prior research concisely.
Demonstrate awareness of key debates or controversies.
Avoid exhaustive historical accounts- focus on what informs your study.
Move 2 — Establish a Niche
Identify a gap, problem, or unresolved question in the literature.
Emphasize why this gap matters theoretically, methodologically, or practically.
Use critical language: “However, little is known about…”, “Despite extensive work, X remains unexplored.”
Move 3 — Occupy the Niche
Present your study as addressing the gap.
Clearly state purpose, scope, and significance.
Signal originality and potential contribution to theory or practice.
Techniques & Strategies:
Logical Flow: Territory → Gap → Contribution (Moves 1 → 2 → 3).
Conciseness: Limit to 2–3 paragraphs for short papers; 3–5 for theses.
Signposting: Use clear transitions: “This study examines…”, “To address this gap…”.
Voice: Establish authoritative yet approachable tone; avoid overgeneralization.
Tips for Mastery:
Align with title, objectives, and research questions.
Highlight relevance and urgency without exaggeration.
Avoid tangential historical background- focus on debates directly connected to your study.
Use citations selectively, prioritize high-impact or seminal works.
Optionally, include a brief rationale for theoretical or methodological approach.
Quick Checklist:
Have I established the field and context clearly?
Have I identified a specific gap or problem?
Does the introduction present my study as a meaningful contribution?
Is the flow clear and logical (Moves 1 → 2 → 3)?
Are sentences concise, focused, and free of unnecessary historical digression?
Does it connect seamlessly to research objectives and questions?
3. Writing Research Objectives
Goal:
Clearly articulate what the study intends to achieve.
Break down the primary aim into specific, actionable steps.
Guide the research design, methods, and analysis.
Core Principles
Use Action Verbs (High-Level, Analytical)
Preferred verbs: Analyze, Evaluate, Construct, Examine, Investigate, Compare, Interpret, Develop.
Avoid low-level verbs: Describe, List, Summarize- these do not convey scholarly contribution.
Example:
Weak: Describe political polarization on YouTube.
Strong: Analyze the rhetorical strategies framing political polarization on YouTube.
Hierarchy of Objectives
Primary Objective (What): The overarching aim of the study.
Example: To examine how YouTube discourse frames political polarization in contemporary debates.
Specific Objectives (How): 3–4 operational goals that break down the primary objective into measurable steps.
Examples:
Identify recurring metaphorical and lexical patterns in YouTube political videos.
Analyze the performative effects of speech acts on audience perception.
Evaluate the alignment between discourse strategies and audience engagement metrics.
Construct a thematic map linking rhetorical patterns to political polarization narratives.
Alignment with Research Questions
Each objective must directly link to a research question.
Avoid objectives that are tangential or not actionable.
Ensure clarity on scope and feasibility.
Techniques & Strategies
SMART Approach: Objectives should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Clarity over quantity: 1 primary + 3–4 specific objectives is ideal for doctoral-level work.
Action-driven framing: Begin with verbs that imply analysis, evaluation, or synthesis.
Consistency: Use objectives to justify methodological choices in later sections (Research Design, Data Collection).
Tips for Mastery:
Review your introduction and research questions to ensure coherence.
Avoid overlapping objectives- each should cover a distinct aspect of the study.
Be precise: vagueness dilutes contribution.
Draft objectives before methodology- they guide all downstream decisions.
Keep objectives aligned with theoretical and conceptual frameworks.
Quick Checklist:
Is there one clear primary objective summarizing the aim of the study?
Are there 3–4 specific objectives that operationalize the main aim?
Do objectives start with high-level action verbs?
Are they aligned with research questions?
Are they specific, actionable, and feasible?
Do they provide a clear link to methodology and analysis?
I. Framing the Study: Entry Point
4. Writing Research Questions
Goal:
Formulate precise, analytically rich questions that guide the research.Do questions align with objectives?
Are questions methodologically actionable?
Is the total number manageable (3–5)?
Are questions specific to context/corpus?
Does each question add unique analytical value?
II. The Problem Space
5. Writing the Background
Goal:
Situate your research in a broader academic, societal, or disciplinary context.Show the evolution of your problem over time, highlighting why it matters now.
Prepare the reader to understand the research gap and rationale.
Core Principles
Funnel ApproachStart broad: Introduce the general field or societal issue.
Narrow gradually to the specific problem or niche your research addresses.
This approach builds relevance and frames the research logically.
Historical Perspective: How did the problem emerge or evolve?
Current Status: What is known? What is debated?
Highlight key studies, statistics, trends, or controversies.
Use quantitative data (percentages, sample sizes, trends).
Cite seminal studies to show awareness of foundational work.
Reference recent debates or gaps to justify your study.
Integrate theoretical and empirical insights.
Show why the problem demands investigation now.
6. Writing the Significance
Goal:
Convince the reader: “This research matters.”Explicitly address three types of significance.
Theoretical Significance
Contribution to knowledge, concepts, or theory.
E.g., refining existing frameworks, introducing a novel lens.
Practical Significance
Implications for practitioners, policy makers, or industry.
E.g., informing communication strategies, policy decisions, or educational practices.
Methodological Significance
Novel approach, analytic tool, or dataset.
E.g., innovative coding scheme, AI-assisted analysis, mixed-method design.
7. Writing the Statement of the Problem
Goal:
Articulate the specific research gap your study addresses.Show why filling this gap is necessary and urgent.
Core Principles
Gap ArticulationDefine current state: What is known or done?
Define desired state: What should be known or addressed?
Highlight limitations, controversies, or omissions in prior work.
III. Theoretical & Conceptual Architectures
8. Writing the Theoretical Framework
Goal:
Provide a lens through which data will be interpreted.Demonstrate alignment between existing theory and your research problem.
Core Principles
Lens SelectionChoose an established theory (e.g., Speech Act Theory, Framing Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis).
The theory should reveal insights that are otherwise hidden in your data.
Justification
Explain why this theory is the most appropriate for your research problem.
Show how it addresses gaps or limitations in prior studies.
Highlight compatibility with research questions and objectives.
Goal:
Specify how data will be systematically analyzed.Operationalize abstract concepts into measurable or observable categories.
Core Principles
OperationalizationTranslate conceptual/theoretical constructs into analyzable units (e.g., types of metaphors, recurring rhetorical devices).
Ensure each category maps back to research questions.
Coding Scheme
Develop consistent, replicable categories or “buckets” for data treatment.
Include criteria for inclusion/exclusion of examples or data points.
Use tables or matrices to organize codes and sub-codes.
Method Alignment
Ensure that analysis methods (qualitative, quantitative, mixed) fit the data type and RQs.
Consider software tools or AI-assisted coding, but always validate manually.
Test coding scheme on a pilot sample to check clarity and applicability.
Include examples in your documentation to illustrate each code.
Maintain a clear audit trail to ensure transparency and replicability.
10. Writing the Conceptual Framework
Goal:
Present a visual and logical map of your research concepts.Integrate multiple ideas into a cohesive, original framework.
Show directionality of relationships (e.g., independent → dependent; causal links).
Analytical framework operationalizes constructs with replicable coding?
Conceptual framework visually and logically maps relationships and novelty?
All frameworks are aligned with objectives, RQs, and significance?
IV. Evidence & Positioning
11. Writing the Literature Review (LR)
Goal:
Demonstrate mastery of existing scholarship while positioning your study in the academic conversation.Show how your research builds on, diverges from, or extends prior work.
Core Principles
LR as Argument, Not Summary
Avoid a chronological “laundry list” of studies.Structure the review as a map of the scholarly territory: who is doing what, where gaps exist, and how debates intersect.
Highlight points of agreement, contention, and unresolved questions.
Goal:
Transparently acknowledge factors beyond your control that might affect results or generalizability.Core Principles
Identify Constraints
Sample size or selection biases.Access restrictions to participants or data.
Limitations can justify future research directions.
13. Writing Delimitations
Goal:
Explicitly define the boundaries you set intentionally for your study.Core Principles
Scope Definition
Specify what is included or excluded (e.g., YouTube discourse only, not TikTok).Clarify the geographical, temporal, or demographic limits.
Paraphrasing dominates; quotes used strategically?
Limitations clearly acknowledged, impact explained?
Delimitations explicitly stated, rationale provided?
LR, limitations, and delimitations align with research questions and objectives?
V. Method & Synthesis
14. Writing Research Design
Goal:
Show a coherent, philosophically aligned plan for conducting your study.Demonstrate that your methodology is valid, reliable, and ethically sound.
Core Principles
OEM Nexus
Ontology (What is real?): Define the nature of the phenomena you study.Epistemology (How do we know?): Justify how knowledge of the phenomenon can be obtained.
Methodology (How do we study it?): Select techniques consistent with your ontology & epistemology.
Ensure logical coherence across these three layers.
Reliability: Ensure methods can be replicated or audited.
Ethics: Demonstrate awareness of consent, confidentiality, and researcher reflexivity.
Clarify practical considerations (sample size, access, time constraints).
Tips for Mastery
Include a diagram of OEM alignment for clarity.Explicitly link methods to research objectives and questions.
Anticipate potential critiques by justifying trade-offs in methodological decisions.
15. Writing Data Analysis
Goal:
Move beyond description to interpret patterns, revealing why findings occur.Core Principles
Interpretation vs. Description
Description = reporting facts or frequencies.Interpretation = explaining patterns, causation, or theoretical relevance.
Tie interpretations to your analytical and conceptual frameworks.
Increases credibility and reduces bias.
Tables, charts, diagrams, and concept maps enhance clarity and comprehension.
Helps connect data to themes, categories, or hypotheses.
Always justify interpretive choices with examples from the data.
Highlight unexpected findings and reflect on their significance.
Goal:
Provide clear intellectual closure, linking results to research questions and objectives.Core Principles
Findings (What)
Present raw or processed results in a structured, digestible manner.Organize by themes, categories, or research questions.
Interpret findings in relation to theoretical frameworks, literature, and practical implications.
Highlight contributions, insights, and potential applications.
Map each finding back to the original research question(s).
Discuss limitations and scope for future research in context of conclusions.
Use tables or figures to show links between findings and research questions.
End with a strong, concise statement of significance to leave the reader with a clear understanding of your contribution.
Quick Checklist — Method & Synthesis
OEM alignment clearly illustrated and justified?Methodology supports research questions and is feasible, ethical, and rigorous?
Data analysis interprets rather than merely describes?
Triangulation or validation mechanisms are in place?
Findings clearly mapped to research questions?
Conclusions emphasize intellectual contribution and significance?
VI. Metadata & Impact
17. Writing an Abstract
Goal:
Provide a concise, standalone summary of your entire study.Ensure it communicates what was done, why, how, and the significance.
Contextualize why the study matters.
Keep technical jargon minimal; clarity is key.
Emphasize patterns, relationships, or insights that answer research questions.
Highlight intellectual, theoretical, or practical significance.
Signal contribution to the field or actionable insight.
Avoid citations or long explanations , this is a snapshot, not a literature review.
Use active voice and precise terms to maximize readability and impact.
Aim for 150–250 words, depending on journal or institutional guidelines.
Goal:
Provide complete and accurate credit to all sources cited in your study.Maintain consistency, traceability, and credibility.
Follow a single style rigorously (APA 7th edition, Harvard, or journal-specific).
Include all in-text citations in the reference list; no extras.
Cross-check each citation for accuracy in spelling, dates, titles, and DOI/URLs.
Use AI tools (e.g., Zotero suggestions, Grammarly Reference) to flag inconsistencies — but always verify manually.
Maintain consistent punctuation, capitalization, and italics across all entries.
Include DOIs or URLs whenever available; ensures traceability and scholarly transparency.
Regularly update your reference list during writing to avoid last-minute errors.
Abstract is standalone and understandable without reading the full paper?
References are consistent, complete, and correctly formatted?
All in-text citations match reference list entries?
Reference management tools are used to ensure traceability and organization?
Term Paper Guide: Metaphors of Political Polarization in YouTube News
Title:
Ensure clarity, precision, and specificity.
Example: “Metaphors of Political Polarization and Individuals’ Disorientation in YouTube News: Threats to Nationalism”
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
Thematic/Theoretical Understanding:
Identify a Niche:
Highlight gaps (e.g., lack of YouTube-focused metaphor analysis, disorientation as threat to nationalism).
Synthesis: Organize by themes, not chronology; show debates, contradictions, trends.
3. Research Methodology
3.1 Theoretical Underpinning
Use Theory of Metaphors (Lakoff & Johnson) as analytical lens.
Justify why this theory reveals ideological framing and disorientation effects.3.2 Data Collection
Sample & Demographics: Define channels, videos, time frame, target audience.
Nature of Data: Audio, transcripts, visuals, subtitles.
Ethical Considerations: Informed consent (if interviews), privacy, proper citation.
3.3 Data Analysis
Categorize metaphors (source-target mappings, domains).
Analyze patterns, frequency, and framing effects.
Tools: manual coding or AI-assisted text analysis; human validation required.
4. Results & Discussion
Present tables/figures with captions (single-spaced).
Interpret patterns: How metaphors shape polarization and disorientation.
Compare findings with prior literature; highlight theoretical and practical insights.
Discuss implications for nationalism, media literacy, and public discourse.
5. Conclusion
Summarize key findings.
Reiterate contributions to theory, methodology, and practice.
Suggest limitations and future research directions.
6. References
Use APA style (2020 onwards).
Ensure all in-text citations match the bibliography.
Include peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and reputable media sources.
Link for detailed APA guidance: APA Guide
Tables & Figures
Tables: Caption + body, single-spaced, embedded in text.
Figures/Images: ≥300 dpi, TIFF/EPS/Photoshop preferred; JPEG okay if embedded.
Phonetics
Use International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for transcription.
Submission
Include similarity report.
Deadline: Week 13 of the semester.Instructor Tips
Align title → RQs → objectives → methodology → analysis → conclusion.Keep arguments theory-driven, evidence-backed, and critically synthesized.
Use AI tools for transcription/analysis, but always verify manually.
Maintain clarity, conciseness, and coherence throughout.
Essential Reading
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2008). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.
Lycan, W. G. (2018). Philosophy of language: A contemporary introduction. Routledge.
Martinich, A. P. (2024). Philosophical writing: An introduction. John Wiley & Sons.
Martinich, P. (2000). The philosophy of language (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (Eds.). (2013). The handbook of English for specific purposes (Vol. 592). Boston: Wiley-blackwell.
Stewart, L. (n.d.). Genre analysis: Methods, techniques & application. Atlas.ti Research Hub.
Swales, J. (n.d.). Genre and English for academic purposes [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W--C4AzvwiU

