Objective:
The course objective is to build upon the concepts taught in English Composition I by focusing on a research perspective. Students will be introduced to proper research techniques for academic writing and will practice navigating the research process, beginning with a research question and culminating in a final 6-8 page argumentative research essay. Additionally, students will gain experience interacting with and evaluating scholarly research sources outside of those chosen for their final essay.
Learning Outcomes:
- Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to apply the basics of research writing
- Evaluate the types and quality of sources
- Improve rough drafts using revising and editing skills
- Develop effective research questions and thesis statements
- Engage in meaningful analysis of research
- Apply the principles and techniques of argumentative writing
- Structure research essays effectively
- Integrate research according to citation conventions
- And polish final drafts using proofreading skills
General Course Topics:
- Introduction to the research writing process
- Defining academic research writing
- The purpose of research writing
- Managing your research project
- The qualities of a good research question
- Choosing a manageable research topic
- Formulating a thesis
- Outlining and classical essay structure
- The seven steps of the research process
- Finding and evaluating research sources
- Distinguishing scholarly journals from other sources
- Understanding bias
- Strategies for gathering reliable information
- Research and critical reading
- Connecting source materials
- Annotated bibliographies
- Research writing and argument
- Persuasion
- Models of argument
- Purpose, audience, tone, and content
- Creating a rough draft
- Introductions
- Body paragraphs
- Conclusions
- Avoiding plagiarism
- Citing and referencing techniques
- Blending source material with your own work
- Anatomy of a well-cited paragraph
- Revising and editing
- General areas of revision
- Cohesion
- Developing a final draft
- Using sources creatively
- Detecting assumptions and generalizations
- Fact-checking and proofreading
- Reflection and reflective learning