Kick-starting your research

The Research Process

• Inquire• Advanced Knowledge• Supporting your argument

Define your research question

• The exact question your research will try to answer

• Sharper questions

Develop a working thesis

• Could be called a hypothesis• Your overall claim

Devise your plan

• Research question• Working thesis• Results from literature review• Description of problem• Plan/solutions for problem• Limitations/challenges• Bibliography

Help your friends

• Get into groups of two• Read your friend’s proposal and write down, in

your own words:– What is the author’s topic?– What’s the paper’s thesis?– What’s the author’s plan for the research?

Source’s credibility

• How do you know if it is reliable?• A little background check on the authors• Are you biased?• Is it up to date?

Here’s the bonus for you

• Start with your bibliography / reference / works cited FIRST

Detour / Roadblock

• What happens when you don’t find what you need/desire?

Research Paper

Joining the Conversation

• Where to start?– Look into your proposal– Set your mind right

Joining the Conversation

• Where to start?– Look into your proposal– Set your mind right

• What’s your voice?– Expository Research Paper– Argumentative Research Paper

Figure 13.1 on page 313

How a research paper looks like?

Introduction– Identify your topic– State your purpose– State your thesis statement– Offer background information– Importance of your paper

Your paper

Body– Issues (chronological or argumentative)– Subsections / divisions / headings– Direct quotations – Paraphrasing or summarizing– In-text citations

Your paper

Conclusion– Transition to conclusion– Restate your main points / thesis statement– Stress the importance again– Call to action– Optional: limitations of this paper / research

methods