Research Question and Explanation (300 words):
In order to prepare for a persuasive research paper, a student needs research. But that is easier said than done. How does one conduct effective research? The best research a student can conduct is one that seeks for questions, answers, and information to create a point of view, rather than to confirm or deny a previously held point of view. For this reason, once you have established your topic, you must create a research question to direct your research process. When you create your research question, you will write approximately 300 words describing your research question and why you made the choice you did, including what you hope to discover through your research question.
Picture this like the “menu” for the paper. You’re seeing what it is that you want to write about without really committing to it yet. For this assignment, there’s no real right or wrong way to do it. Essentially you’re just getting a little of your current thought process out on paper.
This assignment will not be a part of the finished essay. It’s a pre-writing exercise, but it will guide you in your research, which you will also begin!
For a bit of direction with your research question, consider the following:
1) For your research project, you will, in fact, decide on your own audience, as discussed earlier. This audience needs to be carefully chosen, be specific, and be a skeptical audience (i.e. your audience can’t be “anybody” and your audience cannot already agree with you). 2) Your role is that of an advocate. You are trying to persuade a skeptical audience. You are using the problem/solution format, so you are arguing for your particular solution to a given issue.
