A Quick Guide to Research

The INK Quick Guide to Research Writing

A major function of learning and expanding upon one’s knowledge of any reconstructed ancient religion, Kemeticism not withstanding, is research. For many of us, exploring every facet of ancient Egyptian culture is a part of our religious devotion. Our love for the religion naturally leads us to examine the hows and whys of its existence. To do this reliably, we research. Research is the sometimes tedious way in which bits of information are gathered so that the author or student (that would be you) can assemble them into a cohesive narrative or argument. While it may sound daunting at times, one need not have an advanced degree in order to do quality research. Following are some guidelines to help in doing just that.

Where to start:

The very first thing one must do is to pick a topic. Ideally, this should be something that interests you personally. How much your topic interests you is oftentimes the difference between enjoying the research process and outright hating it. Sometimes, however, one may not have control over the topic to be written on, especially when one is a student. Research writing is not all wine and roses, even when you are passionate about subject of your research, but it is very rewarding to add to the existing volume of work written by practitioners of the religion for the benefit of others of our ilk.

So you have your topic. Swell! Now is the time to pare that down to what you hope to convey in your finished paper. When looking at your topic, you should think about what kinds of questions you could answer with respect to it and what theories or ideas . Use these questions to hone your actual topic of research as much as possible. Clearly focused topics are easiest both to research and to coherently present as a finished product.

Many papers take the form of a proof of some idea or theory. In this instance, you will start out with an argument (for example, "the ancient Egyptians, not aliens or Atlanteans, built the pyramids") If you are aiming for more of an overview paper, you won’t have so much an argument to present as you will have questions to answer. Topics along this line might be, "in what ways does Ma’at affect the world?" In this example, you would want to highlight the various instances that illustrate the ways Ma’at affects people and vice versa. Ennumerate and outline the main points of your overview topic. You will flesh them out later.

Sources:

When researching, one draws information from a variety of sources. There are two kinds of sources: primary and secondary. Primary sources in our example of Kemetic religion would include translations of ancient texts, such as the various funerary texts, temple inscriptions, and other literary or mundane records. These sources are primary because they are records left by the culture one is studying. Ancient Egyptians understood ancient Egypt in ways that we can only hope to with the help of research and critical thinking.

Ideally, these works should be straightforward translations of the texts, but at times they can contain errors due to out of date translation methods or standards of work. The prime example of this is EA Wallis Budge’s translation of the Papyrus of Ani, under the title of The Egyptian Book of the Dead. While Budge is not the great blight on Egyptology that many like to cast him as, he was writing over a century ago and his works are full of errors, whether intentional or not. We have learned much, much more about the ancients and their language since then and researchers today generally are less likely to so blatantly incorporate their own religious bias in their works. It is extremely important to check recent sources.

Secondary sources are books written by modern observers based on primary texts or archeological evidence. These works are interpretive of the evidence they cite and often have a point or argument that they are trying to prove. Most books one will find will be of this variety. There are simply more opinions on the ancients and their practices than there are written works. Not all opinions are created equal, and some authors do better research than others. Cross-checking as many details as possible, while not always possible, is always a good idea.

Methods:

The first thing you will want to do is consult as many books and periodicals as you can find that cover your topic of interest. The best way (especially from a financial standpoint) is by spending some quality time at your local library. Not all public libraries are created equal, depending on where you live, but it is the best place to start. These days, many libraries are connected and can get books for you from other locations, so even if your library is a bit lackluster, it pays to investigate the options they have. Additionally, individuals with access to a university or college library may have another great resource at their disposal. Even if you are not connected to such an institution, many offer outside individuals the opportunity to use their facilities by getting special permission or by paying a fee. It really pays to check out this option, especially if there is a school with an Egyptology department attached to it in your area.

As far as how one researches in libraries, it is fairly straightforward. First, one searches the library’s computer or card catalog (if such a thing exists anymore) for relevant books. I find that books are often easier to come by than periodicals, so I always start there where I am most likely to find something right away. Next, one should check for relevant periodicals. Some libraries, particularly those at universities, have access to databases such as Lexis-Nexis that have basic information on where articles can be found and sometimes even can display the full text of those articles. If you find such a resource at a library, by all means use it. That service is prohibitively expensive for anyone but a large learning institution. Not all libraries are so high-tech as this, however, but there are still many ways to locate journal and magazine articles. All library reference sections should have books containing listings of what articles were published in which periodical and when. When in doubt, ask a librarian. They live to serve.

Another popular research option is the Internet. The obvious reasons for its popularity are its convenience and its relative low cost. One need not venture beyond one’s computer and many sites can be visited free of charge. The problem with relying heavily on the Internet for informational purposes is that a great many sites are not fact-checked for accuracy. Pages on the Neteru, religious practices or texts should be taken with a grain of salt and cross-checked with other research.

Compiling your information:

You've done all your research, now you need to organize it all and get to the writing. The best way to keep yourself focused is by using an outline. It doesn't have to be an elaborate one, but having something to look at while you organize your notes is a great help. Make a note of your main points before you begin writing so that you can easily tell if you have strayed into a tangental subject somewhere along the way. It's easy to get carried away when writing something you are passionate about.

That is basically all there is to it. One should, of course, check spelling (with both the word processor's spell checker and with one's own eyes!) and keep that style manual handy to solve any sudden grammar problems you may come across when some sentences just don't sound right.

Citation Methods:

The most common citation methods are found in the MLA (Modern Language Association) Handbook. This thin, but immensely useful book is not very expensive and is easily available in any library. Others can be found in the Chicago Manual of Style and the SBL Handbook of Styles; which of these you choose depends largely on where you want your article to be published. The MLA style is fairly widely accepted, but SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) styles would pertain mostly to those working within the field of ancient Near East studies. If you want to see your work in a particular publication it pays to do the work up front to make note of what method they prefer. If you are just writing to be writing or plan to self-publish (on a website, for instance) then simply pick the one that works for you.

Improve your writing through reading:

MLA Style Manual and Guide To Scholarly Publishing
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers - The most commonly used reference for research writing. An absolute must.
Chicago Manual of Style - The other must-have, along with the MLA Handbook.
SBL Handbook of Styles
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Disserations - Another classic reference book.