Section outline
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Part One: Topic Selection
A research paper is based on three stages of activity:
- Topic selection – narrowing the topic to one research question,
- Research – finding information to answer that question,
- Writing the paper – presenting the information you found in logical, clear, concise paragraphs to answer the question.
The first stage is often neglected or poorly done, resulting in weak, underdeveloped papers. Plan to spend time on this section of the course: it will make your paper better and easier to write in the long run!
Before you continue to Part II, make sure that you have
- A topic which has been developed into one specific final research question which you will answer through your research.
- At least one page of possible sources of information for you chosen topic (your research document from Assignment 1).