Skidmore College Department of Classics

Sources, whether primary or secondary, are only as good as their interpreters. It is therefore vital that you give yourself time to digest the sources you accumulate in support of your thesis.

You can do this by breaking up the reading process into stages, and by keeping your purpose in mind as you proceed. Start with general textbooks and handbooks for factual background and an introduction to the specific issue or debate. Move on from these to more specialized monographs and articles.

After your intial readings, it is often helpful to note down a rough plan (a sort of pre-outline), perhaps just a few headings. What will your main lines of argument be? In what order might they appear? As you read in more detail, use the paper thesis and the rough plan to direct your notetaking.

On the other hand, it is important to be flexible. Do not restrict your idea of what may be relevant to the paper. Be prepared to change your rough plan — even radically, if necessary.

Careful reading and annotating will enhance the understanding and development of your thesis. The key point is that you should not start to plan your essay or paper after you have taken all of your notes. You should be planning it while you are taking notes.