3. WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?
Research projects can be a daunting task for the most experienced
writers, but they do not have to be! Here are some general tips for
beginning the process:
1. Be confident! Take ownership of what you are writing. Invest yourself in the
project beyond the promise of a grade.
2. Understand the research based writing process. Read up on what makes an
effective research essay and consider your rhetorical situations.
3. Start working with sources and develop a plan for keeping track of your
information.
4. Work on developing a position on a topic
5. Explore concepts of genre and design
6. Consider the importance of context and audience
7. Consider changing technologies and how they can help or hinder you
8. Set up a plan for managing your time.
5. CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC
Choosing a topic is far more complex than closing your eyes and
pointing to determine the course of your essay.
You should really develop your ideas and explore different ways
to approach an assignment.
6. SIMPLE STEPS TO TOPIC SELECTION
Analyze Your Assignment
Who are my readers?
What will influence me and what will
influence my readers? What interests you?
What type of document am I writing?
(essays, reports, outlines, reflection, etc. as
well as genres of essays)
What contexts will affect my work on the
document?
What role will I adopt to readers?
What will affect my ability to work on this
project (limitations)?
Generate Ideas about
Potential Topics
Brainstorm
Freewrite
Looping- freewriting for a
period, reading, choosing a
point, and freewriting about that
point.
Clustering
NEVER FORGET TO CONSIDER YOUR
RHETORICAL SITUATION!!!
7. EXPLORE YOUR TOPIC
Now that you have a general topic in mind, it is time to dig deeper!
Create a plan to start looking at information and the viability of your
topic (think of who you can talk to and where you can go to find
more information)
Then… hit the pavement!
Discuss your topic with others
Conduct preliminary observations
Find and review sources online, in the library, in the
databases, anywhere!!!
DO NOT forget to note your sources and the
information in them so you can go back to them later!
8. FOCUSING YOUR TOPIC
There are several methods that allow writers to effectively explore an
issue:
Identify conversations about issues in your topic. Using your sources:
Find central concepts repeated in your sources
Find broad themes discussed in your topics
Find disagreements among your sources
Find recurring voices in your sources (look for author’s frequently
cited or mentioned in your sources)
Assess your own interests
9. CHOOSE AN ISSUE
Will this issue help me to achieve my purpose as a
writer?
Will my readers need or want to read about this
subject?
Is the issue appropriate for my project’s context?
Is the issue appropriate for the type of document I
plan to write?
Is the issue compatible with my requirements and
limitations?
What opportunities do I have if I choose this issue?
