Introductory Writing: Research Assignment
Guidelines, Criteria, and Expectations
For this assignment, you will write a 5-7 page research essay. The objective in developing this inquiry-based research essay is not, perhaps, like other research essays with which you may be familiar. In an inquiry-based essay, the development of a research question is the cornerstone of the essay, providing a guideline for you to follow in your research wherever the information takes you. You will be expected to use a variety of sources to develop your ideas. The following types of research must be incorporated into your essay:
• Primary sources
• Secondary sources
• Qualitative data
• Quantitative data
• Scholarly sources
• Popular media sources relevant to your topic
Research essays will continue the issues and debates we are exploring in course readings and discussions and focus on some aspects of the politics of rhetoric, literacy, and/or language at work in society. In developing your individual foci for the research paper, consider the range of issues, debates, and/or definitions we have discussed, furthering this discussion to focus on what seems a significant point of contention, the least addressed yet an important issue, or a perspective that, in your opinion, has not adequately been explored. Your paper should follow these criteria:

• 5-7 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font (standard one-inch margins).
• 5+ sources (all references should be sourced through an academic database)

• Essay features should adhere to rubric criteria, including APA documentation (in-text and end-of-text citation).
You will seek connections between the information you discover during your research and the potential significance to your topic, identified audiences, and further inquiry. Your thorough research of multiple sources, and full analysis of your findings, will be the foundation from which you develop your essay. Your sources should be used as evidence to support, contradict, or expand on your ideas, and your essay must include an extensive analysis of the question you explore. Please keep these dates in mind while you formulate and craft your ideas:

A difficult part of the research essay, often, is narrowing your focus to something manageable. Be sure to think through the scope of your inquiry before you begin researching and drafting. We will work on brainstorming topics and narrowing foci in class, too.
• Most scholarly research requires some sort of “literature review,” so be sure to demonstrate your familiarity with the literature pertaining to your topic. Where/how you include that review will vary per essay.
• Clearly state your thesis and extend it using passages that focus and refocus your topic (we’ll discuss this more as the “evolving thesis statement”). The body of your paper should provide evidence to support and further your thesis, in a logical, fully developed, and consistent manner. For each new subtopic that supports your overall thesis, be sure to articulate in your text how that subtopic ties into and furthers your overall argument.
• Beware of the tendency to regurgitate research information! As you draft, synthesize the information gained from sources and weave them into a conversation, using the sources as evidence to support key points. Avoid creating a paper that is just a string of quotes. Your analysis should demonstrate how you are making sense of the subject through your source material. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data will assist in this process.
• As we have discussed in class, use quoted material selectively. When you do include quotations, be sure to explain, contextualize, and use them in your analysis. Be sure to cite your sources, too.
• Use a variety of relevant sources. For the most part, your sources should be scholarly and timely. They should also demonstrate a range of potential views/perspectives on the topic.