research 3

Research Proposal Essay Peer Review Thursday, October 13th Final Draft Due Tuesday, Oct. 18th For your second major assignment, you’ll communicate your exploration, research, and reflection as you listen to, evaluate, and record the conversation surrounding an issue or problem relevant to higher education. At its completion your assignment will consist of three (3) parts, each of them recording the steps you’ve taken in researching your issue/problem, understanding your sources, and evaluating the direction you’ll take for the final research-supported argumentative essay. This assignment will tell your research story from inquiry (exploration of a research question) to claim (tentative thesis). Part 1: Begin by introducing your research question. (50+ words) • It should be focused and specific enough that you can conduct thorough research in the time allowed. • You should use your research question as the title of the document. • You should briefly explain why your question interests you, why it is significant, and why it is problematic rather than clear-cut or easy to resolve. Part 2: Formal Exploratory Essay (600+ words): You will choose 6-8 sources to address in your Exploratory Essay. The second section of the assignment will be both a summary and synthesis of your research, letting the reader know how your process began and progressed, what sources you found, what they were saying, and where they led you. I’m interested here in the chronological path of your process, a demonstration of how you have kept the question open, sincerely wrestled with different views on the question, accepted uncertainty and ambiguity, and possibly redefined the question while reading and reflecting on multiple perspectives. Consider playing the believing and doubting game for each of your sources. A paragraph should look as follows (Writing Arguments pp.147): • Explain why you selected this source (to find an alternative view, pursue a sub-question, find more data, and so forth). • Summarize the source’s argument. • Respond to the source’s ideas. Look for points of agreement and disagreement with other sources. • Talk about what this source contributes to your understanding of your question: What did you learn? What value does this source have for you? What is missing from this source that you want to consider? Where do you want to go from here? Important: Your sources here will reflect how your research develops. There is no expectation that these sources are the ones that will appear in the final paper or that they will be “balanced,” that is, so many “for” or “against” an issue. In fact,

it’s unlikely that all the sources will appear in the final paper. Also, resist the impulse to select only those sources that support any opinions or judgments you may already have about your topic. Reserve judgment and see where the research leads you. Part III: Conclusion and Tentative Thesis (100+ words) The final section will give the reader a sense of where your research stands now, what’s left to be done, and what conclusions you may have drawn from exploring the conversation surrounding your question. Present your current answer to your question based on all that you have learned so far. Include a working thesis statement that will guide you through your next major assignment, The Research Essay. Remember • Your essay must use MLA formatting including Times New Roman, 12pt font, heading, in-text citations, and a Works Cited page. • For more guidance on writing an organizing a Research Proposal, including student examples, see Chapter 8 from Writing Arguments, A Rhetoric with Readings.