Academic Research and Writing: Guidelines for Higher Education Students

Task

Academic research and writing are amongst the most challenging and important tasks faced by post-secondary students. The ability to locate quality research and discern and clearly communicate the value of that research to others is a distinguishing feature of the truly educated, critical thinker. While many students think their research and writing abilities are strong, the standards in post-secondary are often very different than those required in high school or the workplace. Moreover, no matter who you are (elementary school student to university professor) and no matter what your current abilities, your writing and analytical skills can always be improved.

The purpose of this assignment is to:

1. explore an issue of relevance to contemporary higher education in depth,
2. learn how to analyze and assess the merits of ideas in scholarly papers and other forms of research (e.g., journal articles, government or business reports; scholarly books),
3. learn to cite and acknowledge the scholarly sources on which your analyses are grounded appropriately using APA format and,
4. Introduce you to standards of post-secondary scholarly work by presenting logical, well-structured analyses in a concise research paper outline format.

Requirements:

This assignment is independent. However, it will be done in conjunction with your group project.

1. Find at least 2 peer-reviewed academic sources that pertain to your specific “group research question”. At least 1 source must be pro and at least 1 source must be con. 

2. Prepare a pro/con research paper outline and reference list in APA style. 

3. Length: 2 pages double-spaced (12 font, Times New Roman plus 1-page reference list).

How to Develop A Pro/Con Research Paper Outline

For this assignment your task is to find a topic that is:

i.“debatable” (i.e., has at least 2 different views on it); AND

ii.“researchable” (i.e., you will be able to find articles on it in one or more academic disciplines).

Thus: A paper outline that discussed the physical, emotional, and mental effects of marijuana would not meet the first criteria as it would be descriptive only, with little to debate. A paper outline that discussed whether hockey players who are found to have used steroid should be removed from the NHL Hall of Fame would not meet the second criteria, as there is no academic literature on this topic.

In Addition: Ensure you avoid ethical (“should”) questions such as “should abortion be legal (or illegal)? Should stem cell research be legal? for three reasons:

1. To be effective in an academic sense, such arguments require the use of sophisticated philosophical concepts and arguments.

2. There tends to be little scholarly peer-reviewed academic literature on these kinds of topics.

3. People tend to pick these topics because they hold strong views on them and as a consequence resort to making arguments based on emotion rather than logic. Such arguments are not appropriate in academic contexts.

1. Thesis Statement: 

Provide one sentence that summarizes the focus of your paper. Visit module 6 to review notes about creating a thesis statement.  

2. Outline: 

Using the following format, upload a document including (a) your thesis statement, (b) outline, and (c) reference list. The outline should be in point form OR short sentences except your thesis statement (which must be written out in proper sentence format).

Introduction 

• Include brief background on topic (from the two sources you’ve gathered)
• Include your thesis statement

Supporting source for “pro” side of topic 

• Include brief summary of the source
• Include analysis of the source. Is it sufficient, relevant, representative? Do the conclusions add up? Note: If the source doesn’t answer your research question directly, explain what information it does provide that is relevant to your question.

Opposing source for “con” side of topic”.

• Include brief summary of the source
• Include analysis of the source. Is it sufficient, relevant, representative? Do the conclusions add up? Note: If the source doesn’t answer your research question directly, explain what information it does provide that is relevant to your question.

Conclusion. 

• Briefly sum up your sources and how each contributes to your research question.
• Draw a conclusion based on your evaluation of the sources and their answers to your research question (i.e., take a stance).
• Present a thesis statement based on your conclusion (see Resource Links below)