RS1 - Research Review Lesson

Aside from semantics, a research paper is no different from any other piece of academic writing. Writers attempt to prove their ideas either through persuasion, emotion, or logic, and each writer uses some kind of support from personal experiences or outside, reliable sources. Therefore, the research paper for the Research 101 module should not differ greatly from other pieces of writings throughout the course, aside from a new topic and the incorporation of more sources. Remember that all students should work closely with their instructor through the research process in order to receive feedback and approval to move on to the next stage.

Before continuing with the research process, practice understanding the research terminology:

Research Process Reminders

Speakers and writers need to find evidence from other sources to support their claims regarding a certain topic or idea. Therefore, understanding the research process is important in order to find reliable sources containing necessary support. Before starting to research, let's review the steps of the Writing Process:

STAGE 1
Prewriting
Select a topic and begin brainstorming. Crate a working thesis.

STAGE 2
Drafting
Construct brainstorming ideas into paragraph form.

STAGE 3
Revising
Examine the paper as a whole and analyze arguments and organization. Peer reviews occur also.

STAGE 4
Editing/Proofreading
Check the paper sentence-by-sentence for any issues with grammar and mechanics 

STAGE 5
Publishing
Producing a final draft polished piece of writing that is organized and cohesive

Prewriting: the Topic and Thesis

The first step in the prewriting stage is selecting a topic. For the Research 101 essay, choose any topic after seeking approval from your course instructor. Remember, you will be researching for details to support this topic.

When selecting a topic, find something that personally interests you or a concept you might encounter in your future career. For example, if you plan on entering the medical field, you might research the effectiveness of a cutting-edge medical technique or cure. Or, if you have an interest in music, you might research the development of a certain genre over time. The possibilities for researchable topics are endless, so select a topic of intrigue.

After selecting a topic, you will need a working thesis statement that will drive your research. Recall that the thesis statement is a sentence at the end of the introduction paragraph that details the main idea of the writing. A working thesis statement simply means that the thesis can change at any point if the writer decides to move in a different direction.

Crafting a thesis statement that is not based on work of literature does not require the formula taught in the previous module. However, you should continue to move away from writing a three-point thesis statement. The three-point thesis reveals the points of what the main idea of each body paragraph will be and appears too formulaic for higher-level writing.

View the video below in order to see how to properly write a thesis statement:

View some examples of thesis statements for various research topics:

Sample Topic and Thesis for an Expository Essay:

Topic : The development of the Jazz genre

Thesis : The musical genre of Jazz dates back to the early 20^th Century and has changed in various ways throughout the years.  

Sample Topic and Thesis for a Persuasive Essay:

Topic : The problem with economic outsourcing to foreign countries

Thesis : Economic outsourcing to foreign countries limits the economic growth and development of American society in various ways.

Sample Topic and Thesis for a Literary Analysis:

Topic: Women's roles and struggles in The Great Gatsby

Thesis: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald reveals the inner conflict of females who try to survive in a patriarchal society.