Learning Outcome: Practical Ways to Organise Research Reading and Writing

In this blog, I reflect on my learning from the insightful video by Dr. Kalyani Vallath, which focuses on practical strategies for organizing one's reading and writing in the context of academic research.

What is Research?

Research is a systematic and organized process of investigating a specific topic or problem to gain new knowledge, verify existing facts, or find solutions to questions. It involves asking questions, gathering data or information, analyzing it critically, and drawing logical conclusions. Research is engaging deeply with existing literature on a given topic. It requires reading, analyzing, synthesizing, and arranging various ideas, much like assembling the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to derive new meaning or insights.

As T.S. Eliot famously noted, the concept of tradition suggests that research, including literary criticism, is not an isolated, individual pursuit. Instead, it is a collective intellectual effort rooted in historical continuity and intertextuality. Eliot emphasized the importance of recognizing the "present moment of the past" and understanding literature as a living, evolving dialogue.

Research is the critical interpretation of prior scholarship through the lens of one’s own inquiry. It is about positioning oneself within the broader scholarly tradition and contributing thoughtfully to it. A researcher draws upon the ideas of others, acknowledging them properly through citation, and organizes their findings coherently. This structured approach not only validates the researcher’s work but also makes it valuable for future scholars. In this sense, being part of a scholarly tradition, as Eliot highlighted, means contributing to a continuum of thought, not working in isolation.

Preliminary Reading of Existing Literature

The initial stage of any research involves an in-depth reading of existing literature. This foundational step is essential for formulating a meaningful and relevant research question. Engaging with prior scholarship offers a broad understanding of the existing knowledge in a particular area and helps identify what has already been studied and what remains unexplored. This process enables the researcher to pinpoint a research gap—an area that has not yet been sufficiently addressed—and to determine how this gap can be investigated further. Such reading not only informs the direction of the study but also provides a solid framework upon which the research can be built. This critical engagement with existing work is formally known as the literature review, and it plays a vital role in shaping the research before any actual writing begins.

Understanding a Research Area

Identifying and narrowing down a research area is a foundational step in any academic inquiry. For instance, the theme "Depiction of Bandits in Eastern Literature" can serve as a broad research area. Within this, a more specific scope—such as Chinese literature—can be selected to examine how bandits are represented across different historical and cultural contexts.

Subsections and Thematic Focus

The broader research area should be divided into subsections based on relevant categories such as geography (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Indian literature), time period (classical, modern, postcolonial), or thematic concerns (banditry and law, rebellion, morality, or folklore). Extensive reading of comparative literatures will offer insights into varied portrayals and interpretations of bandit figures. This comparative approach helps in recognizing different narrative strategies, ideological positions, and cultural values associated with the figure of the bandit.

Critical Reading Practices

While engaging with academic texts, it is essential to move beyond summary and engage in critical questioning. Key considerations may include:

• What is the core argument of the study?

• Which critics are cited, and in what context?

• How is this work relevant to the selected research area?

• What methodology has been used, and can it be adapted?

• Are there specific terms or frameworks that can help narrow or expand the scope of investigation?

Such questions help identify the scholarly position of a text and assist in developing one’s own analytical lens. Reviewing citations and bibliographies also reveals influential works and commonly referenced scholars in the field.

Material Collection and Organization

The success of any research project depends significantly on sourcing appropriate and relevant materials. Bibliographies of existing studies are valuable in locating primary and secondary sources. Platforms like Google Scholar are useful for accessing peer-reviewed articles. Once collected, materials should be organized according to themes, methodologies, theoretical frameworks, or relevance to chapters. Moreover, now we are using ONOS, Taylor and Francis, Springer, and JSTOR for finding quality material.

Gaps in the existing research can be identified through such organization, allowing the researcher to position the study meaningfully within the larger academic discourse.

Tools for Efficient Research

Several digital tools and techniques can aid the research process:

• Use table of contents or indexes to locate relevant sections in texts.

• Utilize "Find in Page" functions for keyword-based searching.

• Apply bookmarks to highlight important sections for later reference.

• Add comments or annotations for personal observations or cross-references.

• Hyperlink online resources for quick access to primary or related materials.

Applications like Google Docs and MS Word are effective for organizing notes, structuring arguments, and maintaining a clean record of the research process.

Structuring the Research

A clear methodological and structural approach strengthens the research. This includes:

• Maintaining separate files for different subsections.

• Using numbered outlines or codes for easy reference.

• Organizing the literature review thematically or chronologically.

• Planning chapters around key arguments: typically including an Introduction, Literature Review, Analysis/Key Arguments, and Conclusion.

My research: 

As an example, in the domain of Digital Humanities, I have chosen a focused topic: Digital Cartography, and within that, I am studying the novels of Amitav Ghosh. To build the foundation of my research, I am reading extensively on cartographic representations in literature and exploring various digital literary mapping projects. This reading helps me understand how other researchers have mapped literary texts—what aspects they focus on, what methods they use, and how spatial data is interpreted. It also gives me clarity on how I can shape my own methodology.

While going through such works, I came across The Atlas of European Novels and other digital mapping initiatives, which serve as useful models. These readings introduce me to foundational texts and key scholars in the field of literary cartography. The bibliographies in these works are especially helpful, as they lead me to critical debates and the most cited arguments in the area.

In my own study, the maps will revolve around themes such as migration and ecological displacement, which are strongly evident in novels like The Hungry Tide and Gun Island. The critical questions I raise while reading—both about and against the arguments—are gradually shaping the core arguments of my chapters. This kind of reading not only guides my research path but also deepens my understanding of how to connect theory with the narrative worlds created by Ghosh.

Best Practices in Research Management

• Maintain separate and well-labeled files for each subsection.

• Assign codes or numbers for efficient cross-referencing.

• Frame analytical questions as potential chapter arguments.

• Note both supportive and opposing views during reading.

• Document the historical development of the research area.

• Keep track of all bibliographic details for accurate citation.

Writing should be a continuous process alongside reading. Consistent engagement with primary and secondary texts, coupled with organized note-taking and critical thinking, builds a strong foundation for original academic research.

References: 

DoE-MKBU. Practical Ways to Organise Research Reading and Writing: Kalyani Vallath. YouTube, https://youtu.be/QVRLr_8uH0E?si=8O-_UTr0a3tC6ALC.