Research Paper
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research_portfolio_step_by_step.rtfENC1102
Research Portfolio Step 1: Finding a Topic
Directions
From the course readings, choose one essay that interests you and respond to the following items. This exercise is should help you identify potential research paper topics.
1. What issues do you think concern the author?
2. Provide at least three quotations from the essay that illustrate the issues you listed in response to question number one.
3. Choose an issue from question number one and list two or three facts you know about the issue.
4. Write five research questions that relate to the issue you chose in response to question number three.
ENC1102
Research Portfolio Step 2: Locating Resources Related to Your Topic
Directions
In the second step of the research portfolio, students will conduct preliminary research. This process serves two purposes: (1) to familiarize students with available library resources, and (2) to give students a better sense of the kinds of resources they might want to use for the research paper.
1. Visit a library, either in person or online. Access the library’s online database system. Look through the titles of the databases and note five databases that you think would contain articles about the issue you chose in research portfolio step 1. Write or type the names of the five databases.
2. In the five databases, look for articles about the issue you chose to research. List the biographical information about each article and write a question that you think the article might answer.
Sample bibliographical information
Author (if one is given)
Schwarz, Adam and Roland Villineger
Article title of article
“Integrating Southeast Asia’s Economies”
Magazine / Journal name
McKinsey Quarterly
Publication date
Feb. 2004
Page numbers of original printed article (if applicable)
n/a
Database name
ERIC
Library name
Florida State College at Jacksonville Library
Library city, state
Jacksonville, FL
Access date
15 Aug. 2011
Database URL
http://www.eric.ed.gov
Sample question the article might answer
What are some current economic issues facing Southeast Asian countries that are former colonies?
ENC1102
Research Portfolio Step 3: Using and Evaluating Books as Sources
Directions
In this research portfolio step, you will find a book, either print or electronic, that you might use for your research paper. Also, you will apply the criteria presented in this chapter to evaluate the book.
1. Find a book related to the potential topic of your research paper. Write or type the following information about the book.
Title:
Author(s):
2. Apply the evaluation criteria to the book, writing or typing your answers to the following questions.
Where did you find the book?
- What type of book is it (e.g., autobiography, reference guide, essay collection, etc.)? How can you tell?
- Who wrote or produced the book? Do you consider the author a reliable authority on the topic? Why or why not?
- Is the book objective? What evidence of your opinion can you provide?
- If applicable, does the book properly document outside resources? If so, how are the outside resources documented (e.g., with citations, footnotes, etc.)?
- Is the book content current? What is the publication date? (Keep in mind that books often have reprint dates; try to locate the most current.)
- Do other sources contain similar content? If so, list at least one or two sources that substantiate the book’s content.
3. Do you feel that the book is an appropriate and useful source for your research paper? Why or why not?
4. In proper MLA style, write the in-text citation format and bibliographical entry for the book.
ENC1102
Research Portfolio Step 4: Finding and Evaluating Websites
Directions
In this research portfolio step, you will find an Internet source that you might use for your research paper. Also, you will apply the criteria presented in this module to evaluate the source.
1. Find a website related to the potential topic of your research paper. Write or type the following information about the website.
website name:
website address:
2. Apply the evaluation criteria to the website, writing or typing your answers to the following questions.
Where did you find the website?
- What type of website is it (e.g., corporate, personal, governmental, etc.)? How can you tell?
- Who wrote or produced the content? Do you consider the author a reliable authority on the content? Why or why not?
- Is the website objective? What evidence of your opinion can you provide?
- If applicable, does the website properly document outside resources? If so, how are the outside resources documented (e.g., with citations, footnotes, etc.)?
- Is the website content current? When was the most recent update?
- Do other sources contain similar content? If so, list at least one or two sources that substantiate the website’s content.
3. Do you feel that the website is an appropriate and useful source for your research paper? Why or why not?
4. In proper MLA style, write the in-text citation format and bibliographical entry for the website.
ENC1102
Research Portfolio Step 5: Narrowing Your Research Focus
Directions
Now that you have located resources related to your topic and practiced creating works cited entries for these resources, you will narrow your research focus and identify specific resources you intend to use for your research paper. During this process, you should typically revisit the databases you accessed during your first round of research, looking for articles about your narrowed research topic. If you have not done so already, now is an opportune time to start keeping a list of resources.
1. What was the initial issue you chose in Research Portfolio Step 1, question 3?
2. Of the five research questions you identified in Research Portfolio Step 1, question 4, which do you find most interesting? Why?
Module Six Research Paper Outline Worksheet
Directions
Use this worksheet, which contains a basic outline structure, as a guide to organize ideas. Replace the generic main ideas, subtopics, and supporting details with information specific to the research paper.
First, write or type the thesis statement.
Thesis statement:
I. Introduction
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Main Idea as Topic Sentence
i. Subtopic a
1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
ii. Subtopic b
1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
b. Main Idea as Topic Sentence
i. Subtopic a
1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
ii. Subtopic b
1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
c. Main Idea as Topic Sentence
i. Subtopic a
1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
ii. Subtopic b
1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
III. Conclusion
IV. Works Cited
