What is a monograph, and how to do it step by step?

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The monograph is one of the works that surely will not be missing in the long academic path necessary to obtain a university degree. Now, if you are wondering what a monograph is and, even more, if you have no idea how to start a monograph, this article is what you are looking for. Let’s go over the most important things and get down to work. 

What is a monograph?

Broadly speaking, a monograph is a type of textual work in which a certain amount of relevant information on a specific topic is collected and processed. Thanks to this preparation of the collected data, it is possible to convey the final study or research in a straightforward, orderly, and interesting way for the consumption of third parties.

In a monograph, it is possible to include information from various sources as long as they add value to the study and help to strengthen the topic to be addressed. The length of the monograph may vary according to the complexity of the subject matter or the amount of existing data. However, in general, the rules of the educational institution or the curricular unit may require a certain number of pages.

What is a monograph for?

It will be easier for you to do your monograph if you are clear about what it is for because, beyond its research nature and its contribution to the intellectual heritage, this type of work strengthens and develops in the student valuable tools for the rest of their academic commitments and their future career.

While it is true that they serve to offer new contributions or approaches on a particular topic, the elaboration of monographs allows students to awaken their investigative and analytical faculties, strengthens their reading comprehension, reinforces or builds their capacity for synthesis, as well as the adoption of the correct techniques for the collection and organization of sources and data.

Characteristics of a monograph

Since it is an academic text written systematically and methodically, dealing with a specific topic, the monograph is one of the most demanding and profound works. That is to say, it should not be done lightly or superficially but provide innovative data on the content.

To talk about the characteristics of a monograph, it is necessary to know that it can be:

argumentative: when it provides information to validate an idea, proposal or novel approach;

expository: when the subject is approached in an objective and informative way;

explanatory: when it interprets and explains the information to facilitate its understanding; or

descriptive: when it defines or represents in detail the topic in question.

In this sense, each monograph has different particularities and approaches according to the intentionality of the text and the way the information is processed.

Types of monographs

Before starting the compilation and writing, it is important that you can identify and recognize the existing types of monographs, as well as not lose sight of the fact that these can acquire different nuances or details depending on the objective and the discipline being addressed. Get to know them:

Research monographs

The purpose of these monographs is to deal with topics that have not been dealt with before, those that have been little explored, or those that can be approached from a new perspective, never presented back. It is the definitive monograph to prepare for the preparation of the TFG.

Compilation monographs

A compilation monograph reviews and analyzes the most significant amount of information or bibliographic sources on a topic, then contrasts it and offers personal opinions. This is the appropriate monograph to strengthen students’ critical thinking since it tests their reflective and analytical capacity.

Experience analysis monographs

Basically, this monograph offers a detailed and analytical account of the student’s experience in a specific work or academic practice in his/her study area. This work must provide results for the activities carried out during a certain period. It is reserved for specific university careers that require it.

Structure of a monograph

Knowing the parts of the monograph will allow you to advance more quickly in its writing and final delivery. Since it is an academic text, it should begin with a Title Page in which you can read the data of the author, tutor, and educational institution. 

Introduction

This is an essential part of the structure of the monograph since it is the “hook” that your readers will bite and will invite them to continue until the end. In the Introduction, it will be necessary to present the subject matter but without including details about its development or conclusion. Here you can mention the sources consulted and the focus or intention of the work.

Development

Undoubtedly, this is the heart of the monograph. It is your moment to stand out and show how much you have mastered the selected topic. You must include explanations, arguments, and deep analysis, contrasting or supporting your work with bibliographical quotations, paraphrases, or comments. In this section, you can rely on subtopics ordered logically and coherently. You can also find more additional information about academic writing here: https://www.paperhelp.org/. 

Conclusion

To close your monograph, offer your readers a review of the comments and main ideas of the work presented. In addition, submit your reflections and proposals on the topic without falling into redundancies of what has already been explained. For example, a new approach from which it can be approached. This is also the time to suggest readings or bibliographies that reinforce the topic.

Steps to make a monograph

• Ready to get down to work? Making your monograph will be much easier and more practical by following these simple steps:
• Choose and delimit the topic to be covered. Look for an original topic, but not impossible. Do not overdo it by covering too much.
• Design a tentative structure for your monograph according to its type.
• Search and collect information from different sources.
• Refine the information gathered according to the tentative structure.
• Elaborate on a total or partial draft.
• Write and correct your monograph according to the parts it should contain.
• Read these free essay examples to improve your academic writing skills to make your monograph clear and well-written.
• Verify the bibliographic citations included, taking care not to incur in plagiarism or textual similarity.
• Edit the preliminary version and submit it to the subject tutor.
• Prepare the final version of your monograph and submit it to the tutor.

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