Here is an example of the move from general topic to thesis:
- Topic - Heroes in U.S. films
- Issue - Changes in heroes in U.S. films
- Research Question - How have heroes changed since they found a home in Hollywood?
- Hypothesis - As real-life heroes have been dethroned in popular U.S. culture over the last century, so have film heroes, and current films suggest that the hero may not have a future at all
- Working Thesis - Although a case of mistaken identity dealt a near-fatal blow to the hero in U.S. films, a study of recent movies suggests that the hero lives on-in two startlingly different forms
Purpose
If you have been assigned a specific research project, keep in mind the cue words in that assignment. Does the assignment ask that you describe, survey, analyze, explain, classify, compare or contrast? What do such words mean in this field (4a)?
Audience
- Who will be the audience for your research project?
- Who will be interested in the information you gather, and why?
- What do you know about their backgrounds?
- What will they want to know? What will they already know?
- What response do you want to elicit from them?
- What assumptions might they hold about the topic?
- What kinds of evidence will you need to convince them of your view?
- What will your supervisor or instructor expect?
Rhetorical stance
Think about your own attitude toward your topic. Are you just curious about it? Do you like it? dislike it? find it troubling? What influences have shaped your stance?
Scope
How many or what kind(s) of sources should you use? What kind of visuals-charts, maps, photographs, and so on-will you need to include? Will you be doing any field research-interviewing, surveying, or observing? Will the Web be a good (or bad) place to look?
Length
The amount of research and writing time you need for a five-page essay differs markedly from that for a fifteen-page essay. And you may need more time if materials are not available or if you discover that you must do more research.
Deadline
When is the project due? Are any preliminary materials-a working bibliography, a thesis, an outline, a first draft-due before this date? When you are preparing a research project for an employer, your supervisor may want to see part of your work at an early stage.
Research log
In a research log-either print or electronic-jot down thoughts about your topic, lists of things to do, and ideas about possible sources; also use it to keep track of library materials. Record online sources in your log, including the URL and a brief annotation, especially if you are unable to bookmark Web materials on your personal computer.
A Word About Photocopying
Try not to rely too heavily on photocopying-you still need to read the material carefully. And resist the temptation to treat photocopied material as notes, an action that could lead to inadvertent plagiarizing as well as to wasting time looking for information you only vaguely remember having read. If you read and take careful notes on your sources rather than relying primarily on photocopies, your drafting process will be more efficient. If you do photocopy material, note on the photocopy all the information you need to cite the material in your list of sources cited. (And check that the page numbers are clearly legible.)
Evaluating Sources
Since you want the information you glean from sources to be reliable and persuasive, you must evaluate each potential source carefully. Use these guidelines to assess the usefulness of a source.
- Relevance. Is the source closely related to your research question?
- Author's and publisher's credentials and stance. Is the author an expert on the topic? What is the author's stance on the issue(s) involved, and how does this influence the information in the source? Does the author support or challenge your own views? If you are evaluating a book published by a corporation, government agency, or interest group, what is the publisher's position on the topic? If you are evaluating an article, what kind of periodical published it-popular? academic? alternative?
- Date of publication. Recent sources are often more useful than older ones, particularly in the sciences. However, in some fields, the most authoritative works may be the older ones.
- Level of specialization. General sources can be helpful as you begin your research, but you may then need the authority or currentness of more specialized sources. On the other hand, extremely specialized works may be too hard to understand.
- Audience. Was the source written for the general public? specialists? advocates or opponents?
- Cross-referencing. Is the source cited in other works?
- Length. Is the source long enough to provide adequate detail?
- Availability. Do you have access to the source?
Read Critically, Synthesize Data
After you have identifid a potential source and decided to read it, you still need to determine if it merits a place in your research essay. Keeping these questions in mind can save you time as you dig into sources.
- How does the source material-visual as well as verbal-address your research question?
- How does it provide support for your working thesis?
- Does the source offer counterarguments to your working thesis? If so, what responses can you make?
- What is the author's stance or perspective? Is he or she an advocate of something? a strong opponent? an amused onlooker? a specialist? Are there any clues to what forces may have shaped the author's perspective?
- What is the author's main point?
- How much and what kind of evidence does the author use to support that point?
- How persuasive do you find the evidence?
- Do any of your other sources disagree with this source? If so, how are you going to handle this disagreement?
Lunsford, Andrea A. "Doing Research." The Everyday Writer: Second Edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martins Press. 2001. (Everyday Writer is available on the computers in B410)
Maps & Directions