Development of a research question

ENG111 Research Paper Assignment

For this assignment, you will write a 6-8 page research essay. Your essay may be argumentative OR analytical, but either way, the development of a research question is central to the essay. The research question provides a guideline for you to follow wherever the information in your research takes you. You will be expected to use a variety of sources to develop your ideas.

The following types of research might be incorporated into your essay:
• Primary sources
• Secondary sources
• Qualitative data
• Quantitative data
• Scholarly sources
• Popular media sources relevant to your topic
• Interviews

In developing your focus for the research paper, consider an issue or debate you are passionate about and/or curious about. Your goal is to research this topic, analyze the available information, find connections, and take a stance or explain your conclusions. Your argument or conclusion should be supported with evidence from your sources. In order to come up with something specific and important, try focusing on a point of debate, a piece of the issue that is under-addressed, or a perspective that, in your opinion, has not been fully explored.

Remember, it is better to narrow your focus and investigate one aspect of the issue deeply than to give an overview of a whole topic.

Your paper should follow this criteria:
• 6-8 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font Times New Roman (standard one-inch margins)
• Minimum of 5 sources: primarily scholarly, at least 1 primary and at least 4 secondary
• MLA citation style