IL 341 – Framework for your research outline

Please take note of the below:

1 Introduction

Provide some context – what are you writing about; why; and what will the paper be (e.g. a critical analysis of…)?

2 Research problem

Write about the specific issues involved (e.g. obligations under the Rome Statute; Immunity)

3 Research question and research hypothesis

3 1 Research question

Provide an overarching one as well as the smaller components of your final paper
E.g. “The overarching research question the proposed research will address is …” In answering this, a number of sub-questions will addressed in turn:
- …
- …
- …

3 2 Hypothesis – what are your assumptions at this stage? Which theory do you want to test?

4 Methodology

Tells the reader broadly what sources you are going to consult (e.g. journal articles, books, case law, international instruments, etc.) and what you will do with them

5 Limitations

Limitations to your research. What are you not going to discuss/analyse/consider?
(This is not because of the stage of your legal studies/development; rather because it is important to narrow down your focus)

6 Literature review

600 or so words
Pick 3 or 4 relevant, authoritative and comparable sources from your bibliography that you feel will best assist you in answering your research question(s) and proving your hypothesis, and discuss them (bearing in mind both sides of the argument; hence the need for the sources to be “comparable”)
Essentially the literature review tells the reader about a specific part of a specific source that will assist in answering a specific question or reach a specific aim
Note: the literature review is more than a mere description of each source followed by a short description. It is also not a general summary of one or more sources.

Bibliography

Sources already perused

Books and chapters in edited collections:

Journal articles:

Theses or dissertations:

International instruments:

Constitution:

Legislation:

Jurisprudence:

Internet:

Sources to still consult