Pharmacology Nov 8

YOU ARE NOT WRITING YOUR TYPICAL RESEARCH PAPER!

In the past you likely wrote “research papers” where you had a “question” you already knew the answer to, and then found three sources who said “You’re right! :)”, you quoted them and said, “I’m right! :)”. This is not that. Please do not write that paper. You’re an adult now, and that’s not how real research happens. In fact we don’t have the time, skills, and resources to do our own firsthand research. We do have the time, skills, and resources, however, to see what experts have already said about a topic.

You will develop a research question you plan to investigate and locate scholarly literature published on your topic. It is unlikely you will arrive at a final definitive answer! You will ultimately synthesize and critically evaluate the source material you collect, walking your reader through the scholarly territory on your topic in a strategically organized six to ten (6-10) page essay. Your main idea should forecast the major themes or findings you observe within your research. 

To develop your research question, I encourage you to consider a future area of research for you, a subject related to your major, or a topic that you’d simply like to learn more about. A specific question will make for a more focused review. Your research question will likely shift based on available research. Here are a few examples of initial research questions: 

Exciting topics!

· What effect has recreational cannabis legalization had on local economies? 

· How is climate change impacting indigenous peoples in Alaska?  

· What is the relationship between gentrification and homeless populations in the US?

A number of topics have been done to death, and you will be hard-pressed to impress me when writing about them. If your research topic looks reminiscent of any of these listed below, consider asking tougher questions.

Boring topics…

· How does social media affect teens’ mental health?

· How did COVID further polarize American politics?

· How AI will affect the future of education?

Your question should be broad enough that you can locate at least six (6) pertinent sources but not so broad that you have too much material to cover given the scale of this paper. Read and annotate your sources, paying attention to the major findings, methods, conclusions, limitations, and gaps that emerge. As you plan your literature review, begin to put your sources in conversation with one another as they relate to your research question. How do your sources connect to one another? How does Author A’s work influence Author B’s conclusions? How do Author C’s methodologies differ from other scholars? What limitations affect them? What remains unknown? 

As you write, make sure to  synthesize the literature. Do not simply summarize each source one by one. Your essay should be organized thoughtfully by theme/subtopic, method/theory, or chronology. Introduce the scholarly voices at hand, and use summary, paraphrasing, and quotes mindfully. Remember, you are digesting this information and presenting it to the reader. Based on your discussion, your final considerations should address implications or recommendations for further research. 

If you wish, you may frame your essay by discussing your relationship to the topic you’ve chosen, your research interests, and/or your experience conducting the literature review. Just make sure you have met the other requirements for this genre. 

 Requirements for Literature (Sources)

· Five (5) sources! 

· Peer-reviewed (e.g. article from a scholarly journal or chapter of a scholarly book_

· Of genuine interest to you or relevant to your major (i.e. you may write about or conduct research on a similar topic one day) 

· Contents are accessible to you (i.e. understanding the concepts requires minimal outside study on your part)  

 Requirements for Literature Review 

· Address a central research question

· Summarize, synthesize, and evaluate at least (5) scholarly, peer-reviewed sources 

· Follow a strategic organizational framework 

· Consider implications and recommendations for future research 

 Formatting 

· ~2,000 words or 6-10 pages 

· MLA or APA format 

· Header with Your Name, My Name, Class Section, and Date 

· 12 pt font, double spaced 

· Works Cited/Reference Page 

 PLEASE INCLUDE COVER SHEET BELOW WITH SUBMISSION OF DRAFT 2 

Major Writing Assignment Cover Sheet

· 1-2 things that worked well: 

· 1-2 things you want feedback on (challenges, uncertainties, etc.):

· 1 sentence you are proud of (i.e. a sentence you consider rhetorically effective / a sentence that does what it’s supposed to ). You may paste below or highlight within the document.