Research
R-1
A college research assignment asks you to pose questions worth exploring, to read widely in search of possible answers, to draw reasoned conclusions, and to support those conclusions with evidence. In short, it asks you to enter a research conversation by being in conversation with other writers and thinkers who have explored and studied your topic. As you listen to and learn from the voices already in the conversation, you’ll find entry points where you can add your own insights and ideas.
Here and elsewhere in Writer’s Help, you will encounter examples related to three sample research papers as well as a case study that follows one student through the process of writing a research paper.
Examples of student research papers
- A paper
on the role of government in legislating food choices, written by a student in an English composition class. The student, Sophie Harba, uses MLA (Modern Language Association) style for citing and documenting sources. - A paper on the limitations of medications to treat childhood obesity, written by a student in a psychology class. The student, Luisa Mirano, uses APA (American Psychological Association) style for citing and documenting sources.
- A paper on the extent to which Civil War general Nathan Bedford Forrest can be held responsible for the Fort Pillow massacre, written by a student in a history class. The student, Ned Bishop, uses the Chicago Manual of Style system for citing and documenting sources.
- This section describes the steps in one student’s research process for an essay related to technology and the American workplace—from selecting a research question to documenting sources.