homework attach

Professor’s Note:

Research: What it is

“A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing. The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide the student with an exceptional opportunity to increase her knowledge in that field” (OWL 2015).

Research: What it is not

“A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources. It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources. The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand” (OWL 2015).

There are two major types of research papers…

(1) Argumentative Research Paper: “The argumentative research paper consists of an introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement. An important goal of the argumentative research paper is persuasion, which means the topic chosen should be debatable or controversial” (OWL 2015).

(2) Analytical Research Paper: “The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which he has taken no stance. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation. Though his topic may be debatable and controversial, it is not the student's intent to persuade the audience that his ideas are right while those of others are wrong. Instead, his goal is to offer a critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources throughout the paper--sources that should, ultimately, buttress his particular analysis of the topic” (OWL 2015).

Sources for Research Papers and Literature Reviews

So now that we know a little bit more about what a research paper is…let’s discuss what sources provide what kinds of information. In a research paper, it’s really important that you’re incorporating sources that are: scholarly, authoritative figures on the subject, or news reports that you can provide as evidence. Overall the best types of sources to incorporate are: books, textbooks, academic journals and other credible or peer-reviewed sources. 

Books and Textbooks: Books present a multitude of topics. Because of the time it takes to publish a book, books usually contain more dated information than will be found in journals and newspapers.

Academic and Trade Journals: Academic and trade journals are where to find the most up-to-date information and research in industry, business, and academia. Journal articles come in several forms, including literature reviews that overview current and past research, articles on theories and history, or articles on specific processes or research.

Newspapers: Predominately covering the latest events and trends, newspapers contain very up-to-date information. Newspapers report both information that is factual in nature and also share opinions. Generally, however, they will not take a “big picture” approach or contain information about larger trends.

Web sites: Most of the information on the Internet is distributed via Web sites. Web sites vary widely in quality of information and validity of sources. Some questions to ask yourself: who is responsible for this website? Who wrote the material I’m thinking about including in my paper? If it’s someone’s personal opinion or a Wikipedia page, it’s not a good fit for a research paper.

Weblogs/Blogs: Blogs are a type of interactive journal where writers post and readers respond. They vary widely in quality of information and validity of sources. For example, many prestigious journalists and public figures may have blogs, which may be more credible of a blog than most.

(Source Descriptions from OWL 2015)

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