Doctoral Seminar II, spring term 2022

1) Abstract:

The abstract should clearly and concisely inform the reader about the topic of the project, why the topic is interesting and important, what the main research question is, and what the research will yield.

Example: Domestic Violence in Postwar Reconstruction. The Czech Lands, 1945-53

The project examines domestic violence in the post-World War II period in the Czech lands (1945-1953). Although the phenomenon of domestic violence was fundamental to all societies that experienced the post-war, we still do not know much about this phenomenon in the context of post-war reconstruction. The post-1945 period reinforced norms, practices, expert knowledge, and gender constructs transformations. The state's role in society increased, as did the state's concern for the welfare of the individual and his or her family. How have these changes affected domestic violence, its treatment, and understanding? What can a thorough analysis of domestic violence tell us about the dynamics of post-war reconstruction? Through pioneering and detailed research on domestic violence and its social and cultural framing, the project will shed new light on the development of the Czech lands between the semi-democratic "Third Republic" and the first years of the Stalinist dictatorship.

2) State of the art (at least ten pages without bibliography).

State of the Art ("Forschungsüberblick" / "vyrovnání s literaturou" etc.) has several interrelated purposes:

(a) It should delineate which general discussion within the field (or fields) your work fits. What is the direction of your research, what literature is relevant to you, and what authors do you relate to? Depending on the nature of your work (more historical or, conversely, more from political science and similar fields), this section may also address theoretical concepts that are relevant to you.

b) State of the art should also show a "research gap" in the existing research that your paper fills. It should also demonstrate that it is indeed a relevant "research gap" (it is not enough that there is not enough literature on a particular detail. Not every detail deserves to be researched).

c) It also aims to introduce the reader to the literature and sources (archival sources) you are working with and answer why you are working with them.

Overall, the State of the Art serves as an introduction to the topic and existing research. Therefore it justifies the relevance of your research. It also demonstrates that you are fully versed in the subject of your research and the relevant current state of research.

How you structure this part of your dissertation is up to you. However, remember that you should follow a particular hierarchy - for example, moving from more general topics and literature to more special ones or from overview texts to more special ones (in terms of time or territory). The section on primary sources (such as archival sources) can be treated as a separate sub-chapter.

Upload the State of the Art in written form to the shared folder no later than five days before the seminar (i.e., by Wednesday). The other seminar participants will study the text and prepare written comments on it, which they will upload to the shared folder no later than the day before the seminar (i.e., by Sunday).

The referee will give a brief State of the Art presentation (around 10 minutes). In doing so, he/she will briefly introduce his/her topic (according to the abstract). He/she will clearly define the disciplinary context in which he/she places his/her work, the debates within the field to which he/she wishes to contribute and define the "research gap" that his/her research will fill. A discussion will follow.