Writing Quick Start: Planning a Research Project and Evaluating Sources

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Planning a Research Project and Evaluating Sources

IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL LEARN TO

  • identify the kinds of information you need to make your ideas convincing,
  • distinguish among types of sources, and choose those that are most reliable and relevant to your research,
  • devise a working thesis and research questions, and
  • analyze and think critically about resources.

WRITING QUICK START

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uppose you are enrolled in a public speaking class. Your instructor hands out a number of photographs of significant national monuments and asks you to choose one and prepare a speech on the history of the monument and what it represents. You’ve chosen the photo of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., shown here. Write a brief statement summarizing what you already know about the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall. Indicate what further information you would need in order to speak or write in detail about this monument.

image
© Terra/Corbis

Before planning a speech or writing in detail about the monument, you would probably need to consult several sources to learn more about it. What information would you need to support your ideas? What types of sources would be useful? How would you be sure the information contained in your sources is relevant and reliable? How would you detect whether a source exhibits bias?

This chapter will answer these and other questions about choosing and evaluating useful sources. It will also lead you through the process of planning a paper with sources. Figure 22.1 lists the research skills covered in this chapter, placing them within the context of the process of writing a research project as a whole.

FIGURE 22.1 Writing a Paper with Sources

SCENES FROM COLLEGE AND THE WORKPLACE

  • For an astronomy course, you are asked to write a two-page report on black holes. Your textbook contains basic information on the subject, but you need to consult other sources to complete the assignment.
  • For a political science class, you need to write a five-page research project on a current issue (such as the Affordable Care Act or national identity cards), explaining the issue and reporting on current developments.
  • You are a journalist and will interview your state governor. You need background information on the governor’s position on several issues of local concern. You also need to interview politicians or local groups who may disagree with the governor’s positions.