Write a thesis-driven essay that states your chosen research topic and makes an argument about why it is important for you to pursue this topic (by “pursue” this topic, I mean continue to work on it for the whole semester learning about it, asking questions about it, researching it, and eventually making your own original argument about it in the research essay). Additionally, use two to three that you find using basic research techniques to show the reader the current state of knowledge on your topic: is there a consensus or is it controversial? Is it timely, that is, does it have a lot of exposure currently in the news or recent scholarship? Is there a problem with multiple proposed solutions related to your topic?
To state and support your reasons for why you should be able to pursue your topic, you will need to cite sources. From your experience in ENGL 1101 (or its equivalent if you didn’t take ENGL 1101 here at SSU), you should know how to summarize and evaluate a source. The new challenge of the project proposal is making an effective argument for why you should be allowed to work on your chosen topic. While you might point to your sources to demonstrate the significance of your topic, you can also argue for its importance from your own reasoning too: Why do you think this topic matters? Why would a reader be interested in learning more on this topic? What is the value of this topic for your local community or for larger society? Will this topic be easily researched, or will it be difficult to research? What existing bodies of knowledge (for example, an academic field or major, profession, or hobby) does your topic engage with, and do you have access to them? Reasoning through some of these questions will be more than adequate for defending the importance of your topic.
Steps to guide your process on this assignment:
1) Choose a topic and refine it to be sufficiently narrow if necessary. You should choose something you are interested in. If you struggle with choosing a topic, feel free to come brainstorm with me in office hours.
2) Develop key words for your search. In other words, what are the words and phrases that you need to put into search engines on the world wide web (such as Google) or in the library resources (such as Discover GALILEO) to find sources that will help you learn more about your topic?
3) Do your research. Use the techniques that we will be discussing in class to find at least two to three sources that you will include in the essay. It is a good practice to find more than you need and then choose the best from among that list.
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4) After choosing and refining your topic, identifying your sources, and taking careful notes over those sources, begin drafting your inquiry essay. As your draft and revise, remember that your essay should include
a) A focused introductory paragraph that states your research question;
b) A thesis statement that makes a claim and provides reason (support) for why your topic is worth pursuing.
In other words, stated directly why you should be allowed to do your research essay on this topic;
i) For example: My topic should be approved because ______. c) Body paragraphs that
i) Explain your sources and how they show the current state of your topic and
ii) Develop your reasoning for why your research question is worthy of pursuit.
(1) There are many ways that you might organize this essay, and the number of body paragraphs you dedicate to synthesis of sources or to reasoning through the merit of your research question will depend on your individual topics.
d) A focused conclusion that makes a final statement assessing your topic. It might also state what your next research steps might be if allowed to pursue the topic, or it might forecast what you think potential answers are.
5) This essay should not
a) Report on deep research. You are at the beginning of a process, so keep the essay focused on the quality
of your topic. You’ll have further opportunities to do research.
b) Be a research paper; you are not presenting an argument about your topic. Rather this essay is a
metacognitive assignment, meaning its goal is to get your thinking about your process before you embark on that process. If you start making an argument about your research essay, you’re skipping an project proposal and writing a baby research essay. And that doesn’t answer the assignment.
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