Research Writing Chap2

WTUC

Chapter 2: Finding a TopicLecture notes

based on Lester & Lester, JR. 2007. Writing Research Papers: a complete guide

Finding a Topic

Narrow a general subject to a scholarly topicReflect on your personal experiences and

knowledge (frame of reference)Examine one narrowed issueHave a serious purpose- one that demands

analysis of the issues, argues from a position, and explains complex details

Conform to the course requirements

Generating Ideas

Free WritingListing KeywordsOutliningClusteringNarrowing by comparisonAsking questionsJournalism questions/ 5Ws

Exercise: Restricting the Subject

Relate to at least 2-3 personal experiencesWorking teenagersDanceViolence in the schoolsHealth careSports

Exercise: Narrow Focus of Research Topic

Movie ratingsWomen’s rightsRap music lyrics

Writing Research Questions

Raising questions about the subject can provide clear boundaries for the paper

General questions examine terminology, issues, causes, etc. See sample on page 17

Rhetorical Questions Comparison: How does a state lottery compare with

horse racing? Definition: What is lottery in legal terms? In religious

terms? Cause/effect (see p. 17) Process: How are winnings distributed?

Asking questions

Framing questions according to academic disciplinesEconomics: Does sports gambling benefit a college's

athletic budget? Does it benefit the national economy?Psychology: What is the effect of gambling on the

mental attitude of the college athlete who knows huge sums hang in the balance on his or her performance?

History: Does gambling on sporting events have identifiable tradition?

Sociology: What compulsion in human nature prompts people to gamble on the prowess of an athletic or team?

Acceptable? Too broad? Opinionated

Living with aidsToo broadReligious bias in selected nursery rhymesAcceptablePollution levels in the Kaohsiung areaacceptableImmunizationToo broadCountry music is for hicks!OpinionatedAbortion is murder Too sensational

Formulating Research Questions

Once you have focused your topic so that it has an appropriate scope for your assignment, time frame, and length requirements, you need to formulate a research question(s). To do so, determine the most important questions that you want to ask and answer.

Consider for example these possible research questions developed from the broad subject area of bilingual education:

* Should bilingual education be extended to monolingual children?* What teaching methods work best in bilingual classrooms?* For what reasons do people send (or not send) their children to bilingual schools?* Are children who are placed in bilingual programs more successful in later grades than those in English-only programs?

A research question will give you a sense of direction. Frequently as you do your research and take notes, you will have in mind a tentative response to your question.

Assignment 1

Look at your topic, can you think of questions that you would like to answer in your research?

Create a page (Research Questions) and post your research questions on your wiki

Thesis Sentence, Enthymeme, or Hypothesis

A thesis sentences advances a conclusion the writer will defend

An enthymeme uses a ‘because’ clause to make a claim the writer will defend

A hypothesis is a theory that must be tested in the lab, in the literature, and/or by field research to prove its validity

Thesis sentence samples

Chat rooms and online matching services enable people to meet only after a prearranged engagement by email.

subject

Focusing agent

A good working thesis

A Good Working Thesis, p. 16, Keys for Writers: a Handbook, Ann Raimes, 2nd Edition, US: Houghton Mifflin (1999)

narrows your topic to a single main idea that you want to communicate

asserts your position clearly and firmly in a sentence that makes a claim about a topic

states not simply a fact but an opinion makes a generalization that can be supported by details,

facts, and examples within the assigned limtations of time and space;

stimulates the curiousity and interest in readers and prompts them to thing, "Why do you say that?" and read on.

1. A strong, thought-provoking, or controversial statement

Bilingual education has not fulfilled its early promise.

2. A call to action All inner-city schools should set up bilingual programs.

3. A question that will be answered in the essay What can bilingual education accomplish for a child? It can

lead to academic and personal development

4. A preview or reflections of the structure of the research

Bilingual education suffers from two main problems: a shortgae of trained teachers and lack of parental involvement.

Enthymeme

“Hyperactive children need medication because ADHD is a medical disorder, not a behavioral problem.”

claim

Stated reason

support the claim

Hypothesis

Theoretical hypothesisDiscrimination against young women in the

classroom, known as “shortchanging,” harms the women academically, socially, and psychologically.

Student will produce a theoretical study by citing

literature on ‘shortchanging.’

Class size affects the number of written assignments by writing instructors.

Claims one variable changes, so does anotherIt could be tested, examined, and correlate

class size and assignmentsRequires field research

Assignment 2

Now, look at your topic, or if you have already written your thesis statement, look at it again and compare it with the guidelines above. Does it meet the guidelines? Should you edit it and make it better?

Create a page on your wiki (Thesis Statement), and post your working thesis statement there

Make sure to add LINKS to your SIDEBARUse the name of the page when you create LINKS

(you can do this by dragging the name of the page to where you want it located on the page.)

Deadline

Research questions and thesis statement must be in by 9/26/2008