In chapter 3 of The Bedford Researcher it addresses the importance of a well developed research question and how to craft a clear and concise proposal for your research project. A research question needs to be narrowed down, specific, and reflect your writing situation so you are able to effectively meet the deadlines for your project. You will begin your question with who, what, where, when, why, would, could or how. In a more analytical piece you may ask a should question in regards to a police or decision that has been made. This question may become different as you dive deeper into the research of your topic. During this process you must always be open for revision until you have developed a solid position on the issue in your piece of writing.
During the process of fact finding, interviews, reading, learning both sides of the issue, you may change your mind from your original position. Most writers begin with a set of biases, beliefs or standards that they bring with them. In this chapter it encourages you to ask yourself some questions in regards to your writing situation, such as what kind of document are you writing? Are you informing, persuading, evaluating or analyzing a subject? What sources will be used and what opportunities or limitations will you come up against? What will be accomplished with this? Most importantly, can you keep an open mind or are your biases too strong on this issue?
The next step is to generate potential research questions. Figure out if your focus is informational, historical, political, based on an outcome or a goal. After that, you develop your questions that relate to your specific topic. Will it be should, would, what, and so on type of question? List your questions and select the best one.
Selecting and refining your question is important because it will point out societal assumptions or bring attention to a problem in regards to the selected issue. Using conditional words and phrases aids in this task. This encourages a writer to narrow their focus on their chosen issue.
You can test out your research question by doing some preliminary searches online through the internet and credible library sources. If you can't find enough on your issue, you may need to widen your focus. Most first drafts are not successful. It usually takes two to three times to refine your question.
After doing this you create a research proposal or a prospectus. This proposal is addressed to your instructor, supervisor or organization. It includes title page, introduction to your topic, literature review, explanation of evidence collection, timeline and a bibliography. In reviewing sources you will want to select opposing ones for both sides of your issue. Online, print and interviewing people is the main ways to research a topic. You have to decide if scholarly journals, interviews or newspaper articles are the right route to go with the selected topic that has been chosen.
During the process of fact finding, interviews, reading, learning both sides of the issue, you may change your mind from your original position. Most writers begin with a set of biases, beliefs or standards that they bring with them. In this chapter it encourages you to ask yourself some questions in regards to your writing situation, such as what kind of document are you writing? Are you informing, persuading, evaluating or analyzing a subject? What sources will be used and what opportunities or limitations will you come up against? What will be accomplished with this? Most importantly, can you keep an open mind or are your biases too strong on this issue?
The next step is to generate potential research questions. Figure out if your focus is informational, historical, political, based on an outcome or a goal. After that, you develop your questions that relate to your specific topic. Will it be should, would, what, and so on type of question? List your questions and select the best one.
Selecting and refining your question is important because it will point out societal assumptions or bring attention to a problem in regards to the selected issue. Using conditional words and phrases aids in this task. This encourages a writer to narrow their focus on their chosen issue.
You can test out your research question by doing some preliminary searches online through the internet and credible library sources. If you can't find enough on your issue, you may need to widen your focus. Most first drafts are not successful. It usually takes two to three times to refine your question.
After doing this you create a research proposal or a prospectus. This proposal is addressed to your instructor, supervisor or organization. It includes title page, introduction to your topic, literature review, explanation of evidence collection, timeline and a bibliography. In reviewing sources you will want to select opposing ones for both sides of your issue. Online, print and interviewing people is the main ways to research a topic. You have to decide if scholarly journals, interviews or newspaper articles are the right route to go with the selected topic that has been chosen.
Excellent observations!
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