WU

Phase 1: Preparation (Weeks 1–5)

You probably have ideas for a various topics, from which you need to choose only one. You will find that some are not feasible, which might happen for various reasons.

Choose a specific, manageable research question that can be answered using existing documentary evidence.
Finalize the research question and thesis statement.
Explain why your topic is significant.
Create a detailed project timeline, breaking down the overall goal into smaller, achievable weekly tasks.
Begin compiling a master list of potential documents for analysis. These should be primary sources wherever possible. The list can include any relevant documents, such as reports, articles, legislation, meeting minutes.
Consult with your supervisor:

Start creating an annotated bibliography to organize your findings and arguments.
Review existing literature to establish a theoretical foundation and understand what has already been said about your topic.
Read and annotate at least one key document per day, taking notes on its relevance to your research.
Refine your list of documents and conduct a more focused search for any gaps.
Summarize key findings, identify gaps in knowledge, and create a preliminary outline of your literature review chapter.
Develop a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline. Begin drafting the introduction and start writing the initial sections of your literature review.

Write the methods section detailing your approach to documentary analysis. In some circumstances, it can be a separate chapter.
Explain how you find, select, and appraise documents for relevance and authenticity.
Outline your specific analytical techniques, such as content analysis or discourse analysis, for interpreting the data from your documents.

Acquire all necessary primary and secondary documents for your analysis, potentially requiring you to visit archives or search databases.
Create a system for organizing your documents and taking comprehensive notes. This could be a reference manager or a physical file system.
Conduct a preliminary analysis on a small selection of your documents to test your method and ensure it effectively addresses your research question. Identify initial themes, patterns, or categories that are emerging from the material.
Revise your method as needed.

Clearly state your research question, provide necessary background context, and explain why your topic is significant.
Briefly introduce your documentary analysis methodology and outline the structure of your thesis.

Begin the systematic analysis of your primary documents, looking for patterns, themes, and evidence.

As you go, review the "methods" section of your thesis, and make any necessary modifications. You will probably find that you must adjust your planned methods to handle special cases.

Draft the core of the literature review section, integrating the key themes and findings from your document analysis.
Organize your findings thematically or chronologically and begin writing the first one to two results chapters.
Draft the core of the literature review section, integrating the key themes and findings from your document analysis.
Use your organized notes and initial themes to draft 2,000–3,000 words.

Draft the "results" or "findings" section, presenting your analysis of the documents. Focus on writing the remaining results chapters, drawing directly on evidence from your documentary sources. Present your data objectively, highlighting key trends and variations you discovered.

Begin the discussion chapter by explaining what your results mean in relation to your research question.
Compare and contrast your findings with the existing literature you reviewed earlier, interpreting your results and connecting them back to your literature review and research question.
Address any limitations in your research and suggest potential areas for future study.

Draft your conclusion, summarizing the main findings and restating the significance of your work.
Draft the abstract, a concise summary of your thesis.
Compile your complete reference list and bibliography, ensuring all sources are correctly cited in your chosen style.

Assemble all chapters into a complete draft.
Compile all written sections and perform a comprehensive first edit. Check for flow, clarity, and consistency in your arguments. Conduct a first-pass edit to ensure coherence and logical flow between chapters. Check for suitable transition paragraphs.
Focus on proofreading, checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure all citations are correct and formatted according to your style guide.
Finalize the draft of your thesis and send a full draft to your supervisor for their feedback.

Review your supervisor's comments carefully and create an action plan for revisions.
Focus on "big picture" edits, such as strengthening your argument or reorganizing sections.

Conduct a close-up edit, focusing on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting.
Check that all citations and references are accurate and consistent.