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Research Writing and the Research Plan

In this course, you follow the same basic writing process you have used in other writing courses: prewriting, writing, rewriting, and proofreading. For a review of the writing process, review Ch. 8 of Writing for Success.

Research writing, however, requires higher-level, critical-thinking skills and research that is more detailed. Using a systematic process is important, because your research and writing will be stronger, more convincing, and better organized.

Select a Topic

Some courses allow you to select your own topics for papers, while others assign topics. This course allows you to choose your own topic from a list of preapproved topics, because learning how to select a good research topic improves your critical and creative thinking skills.

As you consider a topic for your research paper, use the following criteria:

· The topic should not be too broad. You do not want a topic that is so broad that you have too many sources to sift through, causing you to lose focus.

Example: If you want to choose a topic such as health insurance for an online search, just the words “health insurance” produce countless sources because that topic has so many branches. If you want to discuss health insurance and reform and argue that the government must assume more responsibility to help change the current system, then that topic would be more specific and would help narrow your focus.

· The topic needs to have enough research to support it. Sometimes, a topic might be too narrow, which may result in insufficient information and sources.

Example: If you are interested in roller coasters, for example, you may want to write on the psychology of why people choose to ride or not ride roller coasters. You may have a hard time finding enough research to base your writing on. You might need to broaden the topic area to include other aspects of roller coasters or other kinds of thrill-seeking activities. It is important to have adequate research to support your thesis.

Ask Questions

After you consider the previous points for selecting a research topic, pose questions to help determine a topic for your paper. Ask yourself the following questions:

· What subject would I like to learn more about?

· What subject generates passion in me?

· What would I like to convince people of?

· When I watch the news, what types of issues really make me angry or enthusiastic?

· How would I like to influence or change the world?

You will invest a considerable amount of time on your topic—it is important to think critically before making your choice.

Create a Research Plan

Once you decide on a topic, you need to plan for your research project. A research plan is like a business proposal and provides direction to help you get started. A research plan may include the following:

· Topic

· Research question

· Background information, or a review of literature, that provides preliminary content for your research

· Expert or authoritative sources for your topic

· Type of materials you expect to review for your research paper

· Procedures you will follow to conduct your research

· Anticipated difficulties in supporting your side of the issue

Develop a Research Question

To have a successful research paper, you must start with an interesting research question. The question is what you will answer in your paper; eventually you will transform that answer into your thesis statement. A research question creates a reason and a direction for research.

You want to avoid research questions that have a simple answer. Do not develop a question that has a simple yes or no answer. Controversial questions that offer various points of view will make for stronger research questions.

For example, the following is a strong research question:

Why do some colleges use unethical means to recruit athletes?

There are several different answers to this question—a simple yes or no answer would not make this a strong research question.