2. 2
SEQ
• Scope of Research
• Research Guidelines
• Debrief: AP-1
• Attempting the IE
2
3. 3
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
• Analysis Paper tentatively scheduled in the 2nd
Term for four hrs. Details later
• Addl hr config for brainstorming and dev of outline;
to improve the eventual quality of substance
• Scope of the research is being given in adv
• Mother theme: “Maj Issues Confronting Pak”
• The issues being incl for research: eco crisis,
terrorism and foreign policy challenges.
Besides, lack of edn and health facilities, and
poor governance have also been added to the list
3
4. 4
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
• Allied offrs to research on the same theme
• Specific theme will be given on the day of IE
• The scope will be mailed to all on the module
shortly after this
4
5. 5
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
MAJOR ISSUES CONFRONTING PAKISTAN
Pakistan, today, faces a plethora of issues; many of
which potentially threaten to destabilize the country in
either short or long term. There are multi-dimensional
political, social, economic and governance-related issues
that are often considered too complex by a layman to
understand. The knowledge-base on these issues is
generally restricted to a random collection of views
gathered from the media from time to time. This patchy
knowledge, at times, leads to over-simplification and / or
sweeping generalizations in our discourses. It is about time
to change that – at least, for the students of SC-2011/12
5
6. 6
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
MAJOR ISSUES CONFRONTING PAKISTAN
Some of the major issues confronting Pakistan are:
economic crisis, terrorism and foreign policy challenges.
Besides, lack of education and health facilities, and poor
governance have further exacerbated the situation
It is considered important for the students to have
working knowledge and analytical awareness of various
dimensions of these issues / challenges
You are required to carry out research on the above
mentioned issues in your own time. One of these issues will
be covered in the theme for an Analysis Paper – tentatively
scheduled to be held in the second term 6
7. 7
RESEARCH GUIDELINES
• Keep the scope wide, covering all probable sub-themes
within an issue
• Please do not try to push your luck with selective prep
• Do try to get latest / credible data on the given issues. It
might come in handy while building grounds for your
analysis
• Your research must lead you to a logical analysis and
cogent recommendations on the given subjects
• The length of your paper should be between 1200 – 1500
words. Customize your research accordingly
• While attempting the IE, do seek to understand the
specific sub-theme first. No football matches, please … !
7
9. MAIN HDG
• Must info the reader what to expect in the docu
• Avoid generic and vague hdgs
• Instead of ‘Role of Media’ [vague], could have written
‘Aligning Media Potential with the National Interests’
[specific] or simply, ‘Harnessing the Media Potential’
9
10. INTRO
• Around 5 – 7 % of the paper. Should rarely cross 10 %
• For a 5-pager, it should max be half a page
• Three Parts
– Opening argument: presents the broader topic. Can be
generic. For shorter papers, only a sentence
– Problem at hand: introduces the reader with the extent
of the issue; with most (preferably all) of the angles of
the problem
– Transition: generally a sentence; provides smooth
transition from intro to aim. Phrased so that the aim
becomes a logical cont of intro. Else, gets jerky
10
11. INTRO
• Adding Finesse
– A catchy first sentence; but avoid clichés
– Avoid sweeping generalizations
– Avoid verbosity
11
12. 12
HARNESSING MEDIA POTENTIALS IN
LINE WITH THE NATIONAL INTERESTS
SPECIMEN INTRO
Media in the world, today, cons more than just the airtime:
business, commerce, trade, conglomerates and even some
states. It has come a long way in Pakistan from state-run
channels to a true media explosion – all within less than a
decade. Called the fourth pillar of the state, media is often driven
by its own dynamics. Ethics, morals, values and national
interests do not necessarily dictate what media should, or should
not, do. This dilemma has taken shape in Pakistan over the past
few yrs; and conts to haunt the nation with growing gravity every
passing day. What are the norms that media should adhere to?
Where is the line that defines the national interest; and who
draws it? Should someone con it at national lvl or let it run the
way it is doing now? These are some of the questions that are
deeply engrained in every Pakistani’s mind 12
Opening Argument
• Catchy first line
• Gen to specific
Problem at Hand
Transitional Sentence
13. SCOPE / SEQ
• Method to achieve the aim
• Scope gen given for wider subjs. Gen written in
paragraphic form
• For simpler and straight-fwd subjs, a mere seq suffices
• Specimen Seq – AP-1
– Potentials of media
– Media in Pakistan
– Why Media Behaves the Way it Does?
– Recoms: Putting the Genie Back in its bottle
14
Main Body
Analysis
14. MAIN BODY
• Length
– Not beyond 20 – 25 % of the paper. For a 5-pager,
preferably around a page long
• What to Write?
– Only the ESSENTIAL DETAILS, without which, the
discussion will be incomplete
– Be as brief as possible without compromising
completeness
• What NOT to Write?
– Football match
– Details not relevant to analysis and recoms
15
15. ANALYSIS
• Analysis is the core of your paper
• It takes off logically from the main body and makes grs for
the recoms in a logical manner
• You may bring out Shortfalls … , Weaknesses … , Causes
… and / or Problems areas
• How to Apch Analysis?
– Avoid data or info that should form part of main body
– Give out the problem, ident the areas that need
improvement; but stop short of making a recom
– Avoid sentences like, “… should do this … ; or …
should do that … .”
16
16. RECOMS
• Recoms are the product of your analysis. Remember: -
– Recoms are mini courses-of-action; and not just a wish
list
– Each recom contains two parts: what should happen
and how it should happen. A recom without either of
the two is incomplete
– Dilate on the how part. Stay within the scope of your
paper
17
17. RECOMS
• Formulating Recoms. Depending upon the subj: -
– Lvl-wise: e.g, at national, Armed Forces and Army lvl;
or fmn, unit and indl lvl etc
– Pri / imp-wise: gen for smaller subjs / papers. Just give
out who does what; and how?
• Remember
– All recoms to be in the order of their imp; and in the
same seq as covered earlier in the main body and
analysis
– A recom MUST NOT pop up out of nowhere. IT MUST
ALWAYS BE TRACEABLE BACK TO ANALYSIS AND
THE MAIN BODY 18
18. SUMMING UP / CONCL
• Gives the sense of completeness to the paper
• It sums up all you have said in the docu and concls that
you have been able to achieve the aim of your paper
• Length. Should never exceed 5 – 10 % of the size of the
paper. For a 5-pager, max half a page
• What to Write?
– Briefly ident the problem as in the main body, give crux
of the analysis and salient aspects of the recoms; all
preferably in a couple of sentences each
– This should be fol by a sentence implying that the aim
of the paper has been achieved
19
19. SUMMING UP / CONCL
• Litmus Test. Read only the intro, aim, scope and the
concl. If you get the hang of the docu and its contents,
you have done it correctly
20
20. SPECIMEN CONCL
Media has immense potential in the age of info. There
is hardly any facet of our life not affected by it. Media in
Pakistan has grown exponentially over the past decade,
apparently, with little oversight by the state. The race for
sensationalism and vested interests often compromise the
ethics and national interests. There is a need at national lvl to
fill the legislative voids, enforce strict regulatory mechanism,
judicious application / enforcement of rules and prom of
literacy and edn in the society as a ‘national emergency’.
Although wishful, it is believed that with the afore-cited
measures, the potentials of media in Pakistan can be
harnessed in line with the national interests
21
Main Body
• Potentials of media
• Media in Pakistan
Analysis
Why Media Behaves the way it Does?
Recoms
Putting the Genie
back in its bottle
Concl Sentence
Implys that the aim of the paper has been achieved
21. MISC ASPECTS
• Paragraph hdgs should be self-explanatory. Anyone going
through the paragraph hdgs only, should be able to make
sense out of the docu
• Make simple sentences and avoid long ones. Thumb rule:
a sentence should not be longer than 2 – 3 lines.
Preferably, much shorter
• Do not try to unnec embellish your expression with high-
sounding words. Use simple words
• Improve use of punctuations; i.e, pd, comma,
apostrophe, hyphen, dash, semi colon and colon etc
• Avoid verbosity; longwinded expressions
22
23. SUGGESTED COURSE
• In attempting the IE: -
– Prep the outline while asking yourself a few basic
questions – each question ldg to a part of the paper
– Appropriate hdgs representing main body, analysis
and recoms
– Leave blank spaces under each hdg
– Note random thoughts under the main body, analysis
or recoms
– Dev fwd or backward linkages
– Prioritize your arguments as per their imp / relevance
– Be brief and manage your time well
24
24. ATTEMPTING THE ‘IE’
25
Intro Main Body Analysis Recoms Concl
1st Line
M1
A2
A3
R4
R5
R6
Prelim Outline. Filling in random thoughts
25. ATTEMPTING THE ‘IE’
26
Intro Main Body Analysis Recoms Concl
1st Line
M1
A2
A3
R4
R5
R6
Dev Linkages
26. ATTEMPTING THE ‘IE’
27
Intro Main Body Analysis Recoms Concl
1st Line Last line
A2
R5
M1
R4
A3
R6
Prioritize: Imp / Relevance-wise
27. ATTEMPTING THE ‘IE’
28
Intro Main Body Analysis Recoms Concl
1st Line Last line
Intro the
issue(s)
Transition
sentence
A2
Sum up /
Concl
R5
M1
R4
A3
R6
Finalize: On Cptr / Paper
29. IMP VERBS IN AIM
VERB IMPLICATION
Analyze
Give an organized answer, looking for all
aspects
Assess Decide on value / imp
Brief Acct (give a) Describe in a concise way
Comment on Give your opinion
Compare (with)
Discuss similarities; draw concls on
common areas
Contrast Discuss differences / draw own view
Discuss Give own thoughts; sp your opinion
Evaluate Decide on merit of sit / argument
Illustrate Give examples
Review Give facts and your views on facts
30
