1. Uses of Research & Understanding a Research Assignment
From Lester & Lester Writing Research Papers

2. Research teaches you methods of discovery
Relate new information to what you already know
Understand and be able to synthesize different views on a subject

3. Research teaches investigative skills
You will learn how to find sources
You will learn what kind of resources are available
You will learn to evaluate sources

4. Research develops inquiry-based techniques
You will learn to inquire to increase your own knowledge
You will learn how to add to the body of knowledge that already exists within a particular field

5. Research teaches critical thinking
You will learn to tell the difference between useful and non-useful information
You will learn how to determine if information is reliable and believable

6. Research teaches the basic ingredients of argument
You have to make a claim and support it with reasons and evidence

7. Understanding a Research Assignment

8. What kinds of assignments will require you to do research?
In your university classes, there are many different types of assignments that will require you to do research.

9. Evaluation
A professor may ask you to evaluate an article, a book, a film, a poem, an art show, or a product
You will have to do research in order to produce a well-informed evaluation

10. Interpret
To interpret means to answer the question, “What does it mean?”
You may have to interpret data, interpret a work of poetry, or interpret a law

11. Definition
Your professor may ask you to give an extended definition of something.
Examples:
What is the meaning of “freedom”?
What does it mean to say a product is “low-fat?”

12. Proposal
This kind of question is when a teacher asks you, “What should we do?” about a particular problem.
Example:
Many young men in Saudi Arabia are unemployed. How should we change the system of education to improve the unemployment situation?

13. Comparison
You will be asked to do research to show how two things are alike, or to make an analogy
Analogy: life is like a roller coaster…..
or….a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.

14. Implications What did you discover, and what does that mean?
For example, you find that certain diet pills can harm a fetus. What are the implications of this finding?