Study Prof

So there I was, deep in the belly of the library beast, trying to crank out yet another research paper on precolonial MesoAmerican burial practices. But (contrary to what one might expect) that’s a HOOOGE topic. How can I make sure I’ve covered all the bases? I mean, Quetzalcoatl forbid I accidently leave out the ancient Bifstec* practice of cookies-n-cremation.

So before I can start sifting through sources and organizing my notes into topic areas–so as not to miss something as important as cookies-n-cremation–I have to I.D. ALL my topic areas very carefully. I don’t want to read and take notes for day after eyeball-busting day only to find there’s a key topic I skipped right over. Cuz’ that would mean going back through those same sources AGAIN looking for more factoids and quotables on the overlooked topic.

Fortunately, there is a simple, swift solution. To wit; mirror the organization of a major work in the field. Find a book–a well respected and oft-quoted book–that handles your research topic. In my case, that would be Terrance Uberfutz’s seminal work engagingly entitled, All You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask About Precolonial MesoAmerican Burial Practices (AYEWKBWAAAPMBP, for those of us “in the know”).

Professor Uberfutz has already done the dirty work for me, organizing his book in a well-considered, coherent, thorough whole. I will let his organization guide my organization. Guide–not determine–mind you. In other words I will use his skeleton as the basis for building my research monster–I will reclothe his mannequin with my stunning ensemble–his will be the Dewey Decimal System upon which my research shelves are organized–his the basic recipe on which, etc. etc.

“But … but … that there’s plagiaristic,” you protest. Tut, tut. Two limericks–even if they both involve uncouth men from Nantucket–though exactly similar in structure and subject, can still be quite different and unique. We are using the frame Uberfutz so helpfully provides, not the unattributed words and ideas.

Can’t find a whole book from which to adapt your structure? Often, just a well-constructed Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.

So no more anxious hours spent trying to organize your 3X5 card topics into a carefully crafted knowledge nugget net (my weakness for alliteration is a lack I’m aware of). Use the topics and structures outlined by the giants in your chosen field, and you’ll be much less likely to bungle that research masterpiece.

Be Sociable, Share!

•