Research and Writing

Question 1. What Is Research?

Research is fundamentally an act of exploration. It begins with curiosity — a question, problem, or issue that the researcher genuinely wants to understand more deeply. Unlike simple information gathering, research does not start with a fixed conclusion that must be proven. Instead, it begins with uncertainty. The researcher investigates, reads, compares viewpoints, and gradually refines their understanding.

Exploration means being open to discovery. As new information is found, the researcher may narrow the topic, shift focus, or even change their original assumption. For example, a broad topic such as climate change policies may be refined into a focused study of renewable energy incentives in a specific country. This flexibility shows that research is dynamic. It evolves as knowledge grows.

Furthermore, exploration involves engaging with multiple perspectives. A strong researcher does not rely on a single viewpoint but considers differing arguments and interpretations. This intellectual openness strengthens understanding and leads to more balanced conclusions. Therefore, research as exploration emphasizes curiosity, adaptability, and critical inquiry rather than simple fact collection.

2. Research as Communication

Research is not complete until its findings are clearly communicated. Discovering information has little value if it cannot be explained effectively to others. It emphasizes that research must be presented logically, clearly, and persuasively to an audience.

Communication in research begins with developing a focused thesis statement. The thesis expresses the central argument or main idea that guides the entire paper. Without a clear thesis, research lacks direction. Once the thesis is established, ideas must be organized in a structured and coherent manner. Each paragraph should support the main argument and connect logically to the next.

In addition, claims must be supported with credible evidence drawn from reliable sources. Evidence strengthens arguments and builds trust with readers. Clear language, precise vocabulary, and careful organization all contribute to effective communication. Ultimately, research combines deep thinking with skilful writing. It is both an intellectual activity and a communicative act.

3. Research as a Structured Process

Research is a systematic and multi-stage process. It is not a single task completed in one sitting but a sequence of organized steps that require time and discipline.

The process begins with selecting and refining a topic. A strong topic is neither too broad nor too narrow and allows for meaningful analysis. Once a topic is chosen, the researcher gathers information using various tools such as libraries, academic databases, catalogs, and credible online sources.

Next, a working bibliography is compiled. This list helps the researcher keep track of all consulted sources and ensures proper documentation later. After collecting materials, the researcher evaluates them carefully, takes accurate notes, and organizes ideas into an outline. Drafting follows, where ideas are developed into a full paper. Finally, revision improves clarity, organization, grammar, and style.

This structured approach demonstrates that research requires planning, patience, and methodical effort. Skipping steps often results in weak arguments or poorly supported claims. Therefore, understanding research as a process helps students approach it more effectively and confidently.

4. Research as Critical Evaluation

A crucial component of research is critical evaluation. In today’s world, information is widely available, especially online. However, not all sources are accurate, reliable, or unbiased. Researchers must carefully assess the quality of the information they use.

Evaluating a source involves examining the authority of the author — their qualifications, expertise, and credibility. It also includes checking the accuracy and verifiability of the information. Are claims supported by evidence? Are references provided? Another important factor is currency. In many subjects, especially science and technology, up-to-date information is essential.

Critical evaluation ensures that research is based on strong and trustworthy evidence. It protects academic work from misinformation and strengthens the overall argument. This skill also promotes independent thinking, as researchers must analyze rather than accept information blindly.

5. Research as Ethical Responsibility

Research is not only intellectual but also ethical. When researchers use ideas, data, or words from others, they must give proper credit through accurate citation.

Compiling a working bibliography, recording publication details carefully, and taking organized notes help prevent plagiarism. Ethical research requires honesty in representing sources and avoiding misinterpretation. It also involves acknowledging different viewpoints fairly rather than distorting them.

Maintaining ethical standards builds credibility and trust. Academic communities depend on accurate citation and responsible scholarship to advance knowledge. Therefore, research is an act of accountability as well as inquiry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, research is a comprehensive and disciplined activity that goes far beyond collecting information. It is a process of exploration driven by curiosity and openness to discovery. It is a structured process involving multiple organized steps. It demands critical evaluation of sources to ensure credibility. It requires clear and logical communication of ideas. Finally, it carries ethical responsibilities that uphold academic integrity.

Thus, research can be understood as a systematic, thoughtful, and responsible method of investigating a focused question, analyzing reliable evidence, organizing insights carefully, and presenting them clearly to an audience. It is both a way of thinking and a way of sharing knowledge effectively.

Short Note

Evaluating Sources

When conducting research, it is essential to carefully evaluate the quality and reliability of every source before using or citing it. You should not assume that a source is trustworthy simply because it appears in print or online. Information can sometimes reflect bias, weak reasoning, or inaccurate facts. To determine whether a source is credible, focus on three main criteria: authority, accuracy, and currency.

Authority refers to the credibility of the author and publisher. Reliable academic works are often peer-reviewed, meaning experts in the field evaluate them before publication. For online sources, it is important to identify the author or sponsoring organization and examine their qualifications. Domain names such as .edu, .gov, or .org may offer clues about a website’s origin, but they do not automatically guarantee reliability. When using historical or literary texts, ensure you consult an authoritative edition.

Accuracy and Verifiability involve checking whether the source provides evidence to support its claims. Trustworthy sources include references, citations, or links that allow readers to verify information. A logical, well-structured argument and a broad range of cited materials can indicate strong research and limited bias.

Currency concerns how up-to-date the information is. Checking publication and revision dates helps determine whether the content reflects current scholarship. Reviewing the dates of the sources cited within the work can also show whether the research is recent or outdated.

By carefully assessing authority, accuracy, and currency, researchers can ensure that their sources are reliable, credible, and academically sound.

Reverse Outline of a Research Pape

Infographic

Main Hypothesis / Central Research Question

Core Claim / Hypothesis: This dissertation argues that viewing Japanese anime that incorporates European Christian themes—particularly the Faust tradition—is a fundamentally transnational act. Because anime circulates globally, Western and Eastern audiences interpret these texts polysemically (i.e., through multiple, culturally contingent meanings). Their distinct socio-cultural and religious frameworks generate what the author terms an “interpretational liminality,” preventing any single, universalized reading of the text.

Central Research Question: How do Western (specifically American) and Eastern (Japanese) audiences interpret and construct meaning from Japanese anime such as Black Butler and Death Note that draw heavily on the European Christian Faust tradition?

Argumentative Structure / Logical Progression

Chapter One: Anime, Religion, and the Transnational

Introduces the concept of transnational viewing, demonstrating how audiences in different national contexts consume the same anime texts yet interpret them through culturally specific lenses.
Defines anime as a transnational media form characterized by particular aesthetic conventions, including limited animation techniques, distinct paneling strategies, narrative closure practices, and “stateless” character designs (mukokuseki).
Establishes that religious imagery in anime is often “iconoplastic”—fluid, mutable, and recontextualized—making religion an especially productive analytical framework for examining transnational interpretation.

Chapter Two: The Faust Tradition and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus

Analyzes Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus to establish the foundational Faustian archetype: a prideful protagonist who exchanges their soul for temporary access to supernatural power, knowledge, or vengeance, ultimately resulting in eternal damnation.
Engages major strands of Faustian scholarship to demonstrate how the narrative explores predestination, the commodification of the soul, and the corruption or inversion of divine ritual.
Demonstrates the malleability of the Faust narrative across modern transmedia adaptations, including film (Bedazzled) and television (The Simpsons, Rick & Morty), establishing its status as a globally recognizable narrative trope.

Chapter Three: Religion in Japan and the United States

Provides an overview of dominant religious frameworks in the United States and Japan to establish the interpretive lexicons audiences bring to anime consumption.
Describes the Western/American religious context, focusing on Christian theology:
- Protestant Calvinism (predestination, total depravity, and the notion of the reprobate soul).
- Catholic sacramental theology (the belief that physical rituals mediate divine grace).
Outlines the Japanese religious landscape, emphasizing:
- Shintoism (ritual purification, animistic kami, ceremonial practice).
- Buddhism (afterlife cosmology, Hell/Jigoku, and supernatural beings such as oni/demons).

Chapter Four: Black Butler, the Faust Tradition, and Transnational Viewing (Case Study 1)

Analyzes Black Butler as a transnational cultural text. Identifies Ciel Phantomhive as a Faustian figure and Sebastian as a Mephistophelean counterpart.
Demonstrates how the narrative supports multiple interpretive frameworks:
- A Protestant reading, in which Ciel functions as a depraved, predestined reprobate.
- A Catholic reading, wherein blood contracts, sigils, and incantations operate analogously to sacramental rituals.
- A Shinto-Buddhist reading, reflected in angelic obsessions with purification and Sebastian’s oni-like cannibalistic consumption of souls.

Chapter Five: Death Note, the Faust Tradition, and Transnational Viewing (Case Study 2)

Examines Death Note, aligning Light Yagami’s supernatural notebook and emergent god complex with Faustus’s pride, and identifying the Shinigami Ryuk as a demonic pact figure.
Highlights Catholic iconography within the anime (cross imagery, visual references to The Creation of Adam, written contracts), while also analyzing Light’s ultimate fate—his inability to enter Heaven or Hell—as resonant with Japanese religious ambivalence or Buddhist liminality.
Identifies Shinto-Buddhist elements, including Light’s stated desire to “purify” a corrupt world and the ritual offering of apples to appease a death god.

Chapter Six: Conclusion

Synthesizes the central argument: although the narratives of Faustus, Ciel, and Light culminate in inevitable tragedy, the interpretive experience of audiences remains open-ended and non-deterministic.
Reaffirms anime as an “uncanny mirror,” through which transnational viewers project culturally specific religious and moral frameworks onto the text.

Types of Evidence Used

Theoretical Framework:

Cultural studies approaches to transnationalism.
Roland Barthes’s concept of polysemy and the “Death of the Author.”
Scott McCloud’s theory of panel closure in comics.
Catherine Albanese’s distinction between “ordinary” and “extraordinary” religion.

Literature Review:

Anime and television scholarship (Susan Napier, Christopher Bolton, Koichi Iwabuchi).
Faustian literary criticism (Kenneth Golden, Rebecca Lemon, Maggie Vinter).

Case Studies / Close Readings:

Detailed textual and visual analyses of Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Black Butler, and Death Note.

Additional Supporting Materials:

Pew Research Center statistics to contextualize the American religious landscape.
References to popular culture examples (e.g., South Park, American Dad, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Charlie Daniels’s music) to illustrate the ubiquity of the Faustian bargain.
Creator interviews from Death Note to address authorial intent.

Counterarguments and Limitations

The author acknowledges the impossibility of comprehensively representing Protestantism, Catholicism, Shintoism, and Buddhism. The analysis is therefore limited to selected key characteristics most relevant to anime interpretation.
Recognizes textual ambiguity between the A-text and B-text versions of Doctor Faustus, focusing instead on thematic consistency rather than textual history.
Addresses authorial intent by noting that anime creators often deny deliberate religious symbolism. For instance, Death Note creators state that red apples were chosen primarily for aesthetic appeal rather than biblical symbolism. The dissertation responds by invoking Barthes’s “Death of the Author,” arguing that once released transnationally, audience interpretation supersedes original authorial intention.

Conclusion Strategy

Restatement of Hypothesis:

Anime viewing is a mediated, polysemic experience in which global audiences employ their own religious traditions to interpret themes of morality, purity, salvation, and damnation.

Implications:

As anime’s global influence expands, it increasingly contributes to identity formation and the shaping of modern transnational subjectivities.

Future Research Directions:

Broader integration of religion as a category of analysis in anime studies.
Examination of reincarnation narratives in shōnen anime.
Study of comedic portrayals of deities in slice-of-life series such as Saint Young Men.
Analysis of fictional in-universe religions in series like Fullmetal Alchemist.
Investigation of Catholic Vatican representations in supernatural action anime such as Hellsing and Trinity Blood.

References

Thibodeaux, Shawn. On Demons and Destined Death: Doctor Faustus, Religious Liminality, and Transnational Viewing in Anime. 2023. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, PhD dissertation. ProQuest, order no. 30812309.

Bhargav Makwana

Pages