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This guide has been created to assist students in thinking and writing through the many
aspects of writing, implementing and defending a research paper. A research paper is a
written report of research. The aim of the research paper is for the student to demonstrate that
he can apply knowledge, understanding and skills gained from knowledge obtained through
study (and possibly working experience). This means that the student is able to study
independently and critically certain sources, analyse these sources critically and apply the
information needed. The student is able to apply general legal knowledge to specific cases and
questions, but he is also able to gain general knowledge from specific situations. The student
is able to argue clearly and produce a vision of his own. Another aim of the research paper is
to gain knowledge and insight about a certain specific legal topic or problem. The content of
the research paper has to be a topic within the field of international business law.
2.1 Contents
The research paper contains logical, consistent and coherent reasoning. Conclusions are the
logical result of what was written before, without omissions and contradictions. It goes
without saying that the research paper should not contain inaccuracies. The problem statement
is clearly formulated as a question. The conclusions contain the answer to this question. The
paper consists of approximately 12,000 words (around 30 pages).
2.3 Structure
A research paper consists of three parts: introduction, body of the paper, divided into chapters
and sections, and a conclusion. In the conclusion you have to answer the questions you
formulated in the introduction.
2.5 Language
The research paper should be written in correct English, idiomatically as well as
grammatically.
2.6 Layout
See guidelines below.
2.7 Independent research
The student demonstrates that he/she is able to do research independently. He/she will have to
find the sources him- or herself and he/she will have to digest and apply the information
found in these sources.
The student must invite one of the lecturers to supervise their research paper. Early April (the
exact date will follow) the research paper design must be submitted to the director. The
director may require revision of the research proposal. The director approves the design and
decides which lecturer will supervise the research paper. Any proposal to subsequently
change the topic of the research paper must be submitted in writing to the supervisor and the
director. The student must provide an argued analysis that explains the reasons for the change
in the design and how the change would improve the research. For a change in topic to be
approved, the supervisor and director must agree.
Presenting your research paper is an integrated part of the programme. To complete the
programme successfully every student must present his or her research paper in
approximately 15 minutes (barring unforeseen circumstances no exception can be made) by
giving a PowerPoint presentation.
To give a successful presentation:
¾ Discuss your research and ideas with others
¾ Make sure your PowerPoint presentation is clear and easy to follow by the audience.
Note: do not put to much information on one slide.
¾ The examiner will ask you questions about your research paper. This will also take ten
minutes. Prepare for your presentation by making a list of questions you could expect
from the examination committee and prepare the answers.
There will be a separate information session in May where the presentation schedule and
procedures will be explained (the exact date will follow)
5 Technical Specifications
5.1 Paper
The submitted copies of the research paper must be on standard A-4 and binded. The entire
research paper must be printed on the same paper. The submitted copies are to be free of
materials used to correct mistakes, such as correcting fluid.
5.2 Printing
The research paper should be printed using black ink on white paper. The device chosen to
produce the final copy should provide a clean, non-smudged copy with consistent contrast
throughout the document.
5.4 Margins
The margins of a research paper page are:
Top = 2,5 cm or 1"
Bottom = 2,5 cm or 1"
Outside = 2,5 cm or 1"
Inside or Binding Edge = no less than 3 cm or 1,5 “.
These spacing and heading systems are required in order to make proper binding possible.
5.7 References to the sources/literature used for writing the paper as well as additional
comments on the main text of the paper are made in footnotes. Footnotes may include
references to pertinent literature, or may simply consist of parenthetical elaboration. In any
case, a section containing a list of all cited material and all references consulted but not cited
must be included. This list must be alphabetical by the first author's last name.
5.9 Bibliography
A bibliography lists the books and articles that you have consulted for the paper. It is very
important to have a good bibliography. It also concerns the referencing system. You are free
to choose any referencing system, but please make sure that you provide full details of the
sources used and that you apply the same referencing system throughout the whole paper.
References to books should include: name author, title book, place of publication: publisher,
year.
Example
Peter Malanczuk, Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law, London and New
York: Routledge, 1997.
References to journals:
Th. Meron, 'International Criminalization of Internal Atrocities', in 89 American Journal of
International Law (1995), pp. 554-577.
Reference to internet sources (you must indicate the date of visit; give the full address)
www.imf.org/source (visited 1 January 2009).
6. Parts and Organisation
Since most research papers follow the same format and have a number of parts in common,
these parts are listed here for the student's convenience.
A student who desires the protection for his research paper that a copyright affords, must
obtain a copyright and include a copyright notice as the second page of the research paper.
The notice consists of three parts: the copyright symbol '©' and/or the word copyright, the
name of the copyright owner, and the year of publication.