English 102 Calendar: Week Twelve

WRITING IS A PROCESS. Writing improves over time. It's important that you get this assignment in early so that if you make mistakes in your writing, you can correct them before you continue to make the same mistakes.

This is also the time for me to remind you of a basic fact about this research paper. You must establish within the paper itself, why this topic is important to you. You, the writer, must be an integral part of this paper. The so-called objective research paper is not acceptable. It is your interest in the topic that will make the topic of interest to the reader. The other thing that is not acceptable is an argumentative research paper. If you are trying to persuade someone, that implies that you know the answers. Research is a search for answers. Research demands that you know the questions and are looking for answers not that  you are trying to convince anyone of anything. 

Ask yourself these questions:

Why am I interested in this topic?

What do I already know about this topic?

What do I need to know?

Why do I need to know more about the topic?

What types of topics should I consider?

Here are some different kinds of topics that work well with this kind of research paper. These questions are just ones that I thought of to get you thinking about possible topics. You will be asking your own.

Hobbies [I do a lot of whitewater kayaking. There are many books about kayaking written by people who are much better than I am. What could I write about that would be real research rather than just copying what expert boaters have already written? I might research why old guys like me are interested in a sport that is mainly done by young people.]

Career options [What are your plans for the future? What kind of job do you want to get when you are finished with college? Why are you interested in this career? Who do you know that is working in this field? What is the likelihood of you fulfilling your career plans? What would stop you? What will help you?]

Academic decisions [This is closely related to career, but it may also be different than what your career options are. How do academic decisions affect our life now? Do you get support for what you are doing? Does your going to school cause conflict in  your family?]

Family concerns [Your family is a great source for information and expertise. Do you have questions about your family? Where did they come from and why do they live where they do? Who in your family is a mystery to you? Who has special skills and knowledge? What is your relationship to the rest of your family?]

Health issues [Is there a health problem that affects you or some family member that you need information about? Where can you get this information besides the standard sources of books and magazines and internet sites?]

Public issues that you have special insight into [Take an issue like abortion. Some people think that abortion is murder. I know women who have had an abortion. I don't think they are murders. Why? Why not? Why do people who oppose abortion think capital punishment is okay? Why is it mainly men who lead the anti-abortion extremists? Or what about capital punishment? Do you know someone who has been directly affected by murder? What does that person think about capital punishment? Do you know someone who has had a family member murdered who is against capital punishment?] 

Public issues that you have questions about [Capital punishment, again. Take a poll of ministers and get their views on capital punishment. Ask them to reconcile their views with Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount where he says explicitly that "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is the old way, that the new way to based on loving your enemy. Don't be judgmental, ask questions. Look for answers.]

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