The Research Paper
a review

You know when you think about writing a book [or a research paper], you think it is overwhelming. But, actually, you break it down into tiny little tasks any moron could do.

Annie Dillard

          Ms. Dillard exaggerates, of course, but she's got just the right idea.  For the balance of this class, you will be developing a research paper by writing four, smaller individual essays.  These are the tiny little tasks. After each has been graded and returned to you, your grand task is to re-conceive, rewrite, and assemble the smaller essays into one larger project. 

           What sets this research project apart from others you may have done in high school or for other classes is that, ultimately, you will be proposing a solution (see chapter 7), not just writing a report.  The writing of a proposal requires not only that you conduct research and report what you find but that you couch that report in an argument designed to convince your audience to take action.  

           The following is an overview of the project that defines each assignment and refers you to relevant sections of the text. Note:  each assignment heading is a link; clicking on that link calls up the individual assignment in detail.  Also, in Chapter 6, pages 297-99, there is a list of issues to help you choose one of your own.  Our Library has a list of topics as well at Research Topics.  Finally, in Chapter 7, pages 374, there is an outline of this very kind of paper.

So that there is no confusion, the topic you choose, whether it's a proposal to legalize physician assisted suicide or to privatize Social Security, each assignment below will address that same topic.

Prospectus Assignment 
assignment: state the problem and offer a tentative solution- 750 - 1000 words 
reading: Chapters 6, "Arguing a Position," and 7, "Proposing a Solution" 
Prospectus Sample 1
Prospectus Sample 2
Prospectus Sample 3

 

 Matisse: Jazz
Position Paper 
assignment:  summarize and evaluate four sources (e.g., books, journal articles); and indicate your position among these sources - 750 - 1000 words 
reading:  Chapter 8, "Justifying an Evaluation"; Chapter 21, "Library and Internet Research"; and Chapter 22, "Using and Acknowledging Sources" 
note: check Using and Acknowledging Sources (my abbreviated instructions) and Chapter 22 -- see especially pages 782 ff, for there is a sample of a finished paper. 
Position Paper Sample One 
Position Paper Sample Two
Position Paper Sample Three

 

 Matisse: Cutout

Causal Analysis 
assignment:  discuss the cause(s) of the problem - 750 - 1000 words 
reading:  Chapter 9, "Speculating about Causes" 
Causal Analysis Sample One 
Causal Analysis Sample Two
Causal Analysis Sample Three

 

 Matisse: Destiny Jazz
Refutation  
assignment:  offer the most convincing counter argument(s) to your proposal and seek to refute them - 750 - 1000 words 
reading: Chapter 19, "Arguing" 
Refutation Sample One 
Refutation Sample Two
Refutation Sample Three

 

 Matisse: Spray
Final Proposal Matisse: Blue Nude
Final Proposal - 2250 - 3000 words 
assignment: State a problem and propose a solution to it, examining its causes and showing your knowledge of the major positions in the controversy. Use whatever rhetorical strategies it takes to make your argument persuasive for the audience to whom it is addressed. 
Final Proposal Sample One
Final Proposal Sample Two

Last updated:  18 August 2005