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1 year ago in Postcolonial Literature By Kumar

First Steps for a PhD: Mapping the Field of African Women’s Travel Writing

I'm starting a PhD on travel writing by African women. I feel overwhelmed. What's a practical, step-by-step way to begin my literature review?

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By Vinod D Answered 2 months ago

 First, breathe. Start by defining your key terms clearly: what counts as "African," "female," and "travel writing" for your study? Then, hit the databases (MLA, JSTOR) with those terms to build a foundational list. This list should have two sides: Primary texts (by writers like Buchi Emecheta, Sefi Atta) and Key theory (e.g., Mary Louise Pratt on imperial travel, Obioma Nnaemeka on African feminism). Organize what you find thematically (diaspora, tourism, migration). Your goal is to write a narrative that shows how the conversation has evolved and, crucially, where your voice will add something new.

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