Research projects begin with exploring the topic you've chosen, finding all the different points of view that are apart of the topic, & then choosing the one that interests you the most. Exploring your topic includes: creating a plan, discussing your topic with others, conducting preliminary observations, & finding and reviewing sources.
The Bedford Researcher highlights a few key elements in creating a "research plan:"
- a list of people with whom you can discuss your topic . . .
- a list of questions to ask people . . .
- a list of setting you might observe to learn more about your topic
- a list of resources to search & browse, such as library catalogs, databases, web search sites, & web directories
- a system for keeping track of the information you collect
After you're done exploring you topic it's time to target a distinct issue. By doing this you're joining a conversation within a community that highlights "points of disagreement, uncertainty, concern, or curiosity." Once you've concentrated your topic into a particular issue you'll start identifying conversations about issues in your topic: finding central concepts repeated in sources, broad themes discussed, disagreements, & recurring voices. You'll then assess your interest on the issues. After your interest is established, you move to choosing an issue, or "framing your argument." When doing this
The Bedford Researcher tells us to ask ourselves these questions:
- Will selecting this issue help me achieve my purposes as a writer?
- Will my readers want or need to read about this issue?
- Is this issue appropriate for my project's context?
- Is this issue appropriate for the type of document I plan to write?
- Is this issue compatible with my requirements & limitations?
- What opportunities do I have if I choose this issue?
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