Kryachkov 2!indd

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Английский язык для магистратуры
W
riting a Research Proposal
binary oppositions as well as several other linguistic features serve to indicate the way reality is 
constructed. 
While sticking to discourse analysis as our common framework, we will in some cases depart 
from its methodological rigidity and fall back on less rigorous approaches. In our opinion, nei-
ther the complexities of history nor the particular logic of literary texts can be fully grasped by 
discourse analysis. We will, for example, pay attention to the motives of major protagonists, an 
aspect that is dismissed by some practitioners of discourse analysis as being purely speculative. 
Similarly, applying classificatory codes of discourse analysis to the psychological subtlety of a 
novel can justifiably be regarded as simplistic. Therefore, in some instances we will use addi-
tional devices taken from historiography and literary studies that enable us to make full use of 
our sources.
Ex. 2. Methods in IR. 
Increased methodological diversity and an unlimited variety of classifications make it next to im-
possible to make up a finite inventory of methods/techniques used by researchers. Below is a 
mixed bag of possible methodological approaches. Prepare a brief explanation for each of them. 
Are you going to use any of these options? Add to the list other possible research approaches/
methods you will employ in your research. 
—
Economic geographical analysis (econometrical, statistical and functional and cost analyses);
—
civilizational approach;
—
cartographic methods;
—
descriptive analysis (a descriptive-historical approach);
—
document and archival analysis;
—
interviews;
—
case studies (comparative, single country, etc); 
—
quantitative (statistical) analysis;
—
formal modeling;
—
cross-methods studies.
STAGE 2
Ex. 3. Using excerpts from ex. 1 and online resources make up a list of vocabulary 
necessary to write about your methodology. Share it with the class. 
Ex. 4. Use the vocabulary from ex. 3 and the following clichés to account for the 
choice of the methods you will be using in your paper. 
a) A …. approach was chosen to allow a ……
b) A variety of methods are used to assess …. Each has its advantages and drawbacks
c) In summary, throughout these three sections, I will combine … and …..
d) It was considered that … measures would usefully supplement and extend the … analysis. 
e) It was decided that the best method to adopt for this investigation was to ……
f ) One can identify several advantages of, …….
g) The … method is one of the more practical ways of ……
h) The … approach has a number of attractive features: …… 

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Д. А. Крячков