Adjusting to Academic Research

Studying for a higher degree in the UK (such as masters or PhD) can be an arduous task. It can even be made more difficult when coming from a country with a different educational background. One area where this becomes quickly apparent is in conducting academic research.

Many students coming from other countries such as Nigeria for further studies find themselves struggling and getting frustrated when they are faced with their essays and dissertations. They soon learn that they will need to adjust if they are to be able to cope with the requirements of UK universities.

Coming from a Nigerian educational background, I faced some challenges and learned some lessons in the quest to further my studies in the UK, some of which are discussed below. While I am writing primarily from an academic legal research perspective, some of the lessons are applicable in other fields of study.

1. Writing a thesis statement

A thesis statement (also called a “claim”) is a single sentence that clearly states the argument or assertion that the writer is trying to advance. This statement is usually found within the first few sentences or paragraphs of the research. In my dissertation for example, my thesis statement was at the end of the second paragraph.

A thesis statement quickly points the reader to the argument that the writer is trying to make.

It may be preceded by the words “This essay argues that…” or words to that effect. It may also not use such direct words. A thesis statement must however embody an argument. A strong thesis statement would usually be debatable.

2. Describe and Comment/Discuss

In writing essays in the UK, there is usually an expectation that the student will describe and comment on or discuss the subject matter under consideration.

When asked to DESCRIBE, the student is expected to provide a description of something. For example, the question may say:

“Describe the international legal regime for offshore decommissioning in the UK"

Here, the student will be expected to give a full and accurate description of this legal regime. Most essay questions will not however require only a description; they will also require a comment.

When asked to COMMENT, the student is expected to provide an analysis of the subject matter that has been described. The second part of the question may therefore say:

“Comment on the suitability of this regime as it relates to balancing the social interests that arise from decommissioning”.

Here, the student will be expected to make a strong argument in support of the position being taken.

When asked to DISCUSS, the student is expected to provide critical analysis and arguments in support of their position. The question may be framed thus:

“The international legal regime for offshore decommissioning in the UK is suitable for balancing the social interests that arise from decommissioning. Discuss”.

Here, the student may combine description and commentary as explained above, while arguing for or against the proposition.

3. Theoretical framework

A theoretical framework is any existing theory that offers insights into the topic under discussion and can be used as a tool for analysing the problems being addressed in the essay. A dissertation would usually require the student to discuss the problem through the lens of a theoretical framework. In my dissertation for instance, I relied on regulatory theory.

There is no exhaustive list of theoretical frameworks. The framework used will however depend on the problem being addressed.

4. Word count

Essay writing assignments in the UK typically have specific word count requirements which the student must meet. An essay for instance could require 2,000 or more words while dissertations could require 10,000 or more words, depending on the school or faculty requirements.

A key challenge is how to include all the relevant information required without violating the word count requirements. The insistence on word counts however makes the student to carefully screen out unnecessary sentences which do not support the overall argument in the paper.

5. Submission deadlines

Failure to submit essays at the stipulated deadline could mean deduction of marks. I struggled to finish my dissertation within time and only submitted just before the deadline elapsed. In retrospect, that was not a wise approach. Students coming to the UK for further studies must therefore allow ample time to complete their research, make corrections, and submit before the deadline to avoid losing marks.

6. References

A well-cited essay or dissertation shows the lecturer the amount of work that the student has done in conducting the research. The more the references, the higher the value attached to the essay or dissertation.

Students should strive to cite references from a variety of sources. They must also ensure that they strictly adhere to the reference/citation guidelines required for any particular course.

7. Plagiarism

Plagiarism arises where a person relies on another author’s work without duly acknowledging the original author in the footnotes or references. A student must cite all their sources, whether original quotes, paraphrased versions or even ideas! It is important to keep track of all the sources of information and properly reference them in the body of the essay. UK universities also make use of plagiarism software which makes it easier for them to identify and penalise students that violate plagiarism rules.

So...

While moving from one location to another for academic studies is not an easy task, students must also consider the challenges they will face as they transition from one learning experience to another. This is especially important as it pertains to academic research since this typically represents a big part of the overall grade. Students will do well to acquaint themselves with these requirements to have a less burdensome academic transition.