What is a research paper? Academic writing that requires abstract, critical, and thoughtful inquiry based on and contributing to the discussion regarding a topic.

2 Types of Research Papers  ANALYTICAL: uses evidence to analyze facets of an issue  ARGUMENTATIVE: uses evidence to attempt to convince the reader of your particular stance on a debatable topic

Analytical Research Papers  Begin with a research question about which you have not come to any conclusions.  Survey the discussion to familiarize yourself with the various viewpoints.  Critically assess or analyze the discussion and respond with your own addition and/or evaluation.

Argumentative Research Papers  In contrast to the analytical approach, argument requires that you take a stand on a controversial issue while using sufficient and credible evidence as support.  Not necessarily thesis driven but rather set up to draw conclusions.

Example  TOPIC: the contributing factors to childhood obesity How would an analytical research paper look in comparison to an argumentative research paper?

Read the Assignment Critically  When provided with a writing prompt, determine the action words or verbs used in the assignment as they will lead you to a clearer picture of what you are expected to do.  EX: argue, analyze, compare/contrast, discuss, evaluate, reflect upon.

Read the Assignment Critically  Also highlight or underline the key phrases or terms that you are expected to discuss.  After reading the prompt and thinking critically about the question, ask your professor to help clarify if you are still unsure about what is expected.

Picking Your Topic  Your prompt may not provide you with a specific topic. Therefore, you must develop your own based on very general guidelines.  Begin by merely thinking about ideas that seem interesting to you in some way. Look through your notes and/or textbook or converse with peers from your class for ideas.

Invention Techniques  If you are having difficulties coming up with a topic or narrowing one down, there are several techniques you can try. 1.Freewriting 2.Brainstorming 3.Mapping 4.The Five Ws: who, what, when, where, how, and why

Audience and Rhetorical Situation  The framing or rhetorical situation will help you to assess your audience which will help determine the overall style and tone of your research paper.  Make sure to determine as much as you can about your audience prior to beginning the writing process.

SCOPE

 preliminary research  refining of your topic.

Why do preliminary research?  Library Familiarization: getting to know where things are and dipping your toes into the whole research pool before diving in head-first.  Discovery: what topic fascinates you?  Examination of the Available Resources (even if you're familiar with the general subject area and the library): to see how feasible delving further into the topic will be.

How to conduct preliminary research  Go to Libros and enter some keywords that have to do with your subject.  Go to the appropriate stacks. Flip through books and see which topics catch your eye and interest.  Go to one of the university’s research databases and enter your keywords again. Browse through some of the articles and abstracts, much like you did while wandering the stacks.

Should you broaden or narrow your topic?  Pay attention to the amount of resources. Are there 100 books about your topic? Or only two?

Narrowing  One- or two-word topics are usually too broad.  Use the journalist's 5Ws (who/what/when/where/why) to narrow your focus  Example  General Topic: fashion  Time span: 1920s  Place: US; urban; big cities (not rural)  Person or group: youth; college age  Event or Aspects: sexual attitudes; behavior; sociological  Narrowed Research Question: What did American youth fashion of the 1920s say about sexual mores?

Broadening  Too narrow a topic means tracking down resources will be a pain. No resources, no research paper.  Use the journalist's 5Ws again (who/what/when/where/why) but this time use them to draw connections between your narrow topic to larger issues

Broadening: Example  Example  Specific Topic: Are genetically altered soybeans safe for consumers?  Alternate focus: bioengineered or genetically altered foods  Alternate Place: general: US, Europe  Brainstorm Focus on: Person or Group: consumer advocates vs. FDA and scientists  Brainstorm Focus on: Event or Aspect: labeling foods; regulations  Broadened Research Question: What are the main issues/concerns of consumer activists in the labeling controversy over bioengineered foods?

Organization

Don’t Feel Confined to Traditional Roman Numeral Structure  Webs are good (Logical Map).  Bullets are good.  Flowcharts are good.

Reasons to Use an Outline OUTLINES:  organize your thoughts  organize your research  point out structural weaknesses  eliminate "The Shotgun Technique" (writing down everything you know and hoping some of it is pertinent)  make writing the rough draft MUCH easier  are easy for professors/tutors/friends/family to go over with you (people try to avoid you when you have only a rough draft to revise)

Organization will be easier if you:  Take notes on sticky notes ( I highly recommend this.)  Take notes on the computer so you can cut and paste  Take notes on only one side of the paper so you can cut into strips

Steps to Making an Outline  Read through all of your notes  Reread the assignment to make sure you know what the professor is asking you to do  Go to your quiet place and see if you see any major classifications in your notes

Steps to Making an Outline  Start moving your note cards around to put them into structure  Label them in that order (yellow dot for idea 1, blue for idea 2, etc) when they seem to be ordered. (Leaving breadcrumbs)  Now you can feel free to rearrange to find another structure that is perhaps stronger.