THREE TYPES OF RESEARCH PROJECTS

Type 1. Information-gathering. This type of research project mainly collects and repeats information about a subject without much attempt to question it or to analyze it. Many high school history "term papers" are of this type. Because lots of information is supplied in a report of this type, there has been typically no attribution in the text, with documentation limited to footnotes or endnotes.

Type 2. Ammunition-gathering. This type of research project collects ammunition with which the researcher will attempt to "prove" a point or "kill" an opponent. Truth is not sought--because the researcher already "knows" all the answers. The great danger here is that the researcher will be blind to any information that contradicts his beliefs. This type of "research" ought never to occur, especially in academic work.  (At first, this might seem to be what trial lawyers do in preparing their cases; but a smart lawyer will not ignore information that is harmful to her case--even though she probably won't volunteer it in court--because to ignore it would weaken her client's position. The opposing lawyer will act similarly, of course, and the jury will decide on the truth of the matter.)

Type 3. Analytical or critical. This type of research project is mainly concerned with finding the truth about a subject; so the report will probably present, examine, and evaluate all relevant information that turned up in the research part of the project. Therefore, the accuracy and completeness of the information it contains is very important--meaning that thorough attribution and documentation are essential. Typically, each bit of information is attributed to its source right in the text. (Is this a new idea for you?)
 

==> This #3 is the type of project you are to undertake for this course.

==> DO NOT consider doing a Type 1 or Type 2 report.
       Neither will satisfy this assignment, and you'll have to begin again.
 
 

SCOPE OF THE REPORT

Compact: 3-6 page range (main body--computer-printed, double-spaced).

Minimum number of different sources of information: three. Maximum: not many more than that. (In an analytical report, it's rare that one can discuss adequately more than one or two or three important pieces of information per page.) We're interested in mastering the principles here--not just a lot of hard work

Remember that your research question should be local, personal, and controversial--all three--(unless we have made some other arrangement).  You should be the world's leading expert on the issue by the time you begin writing your report.
 
 

CONTENTS OF THE REPORT

Type THE QUESTION at the top of the first page, along with your name. (You wouldn't do this for other courses.)

Put the title of your report about one-third of the way down the first page and then get right into the report. You don't need to include a separate title page, a table of contents, or the like.  (You might want to include those things for other courses.)

Thesis: it must answer the question. Identify the thesis by bolding it. When you print your report out on paper, further identify the thesis by drawing a line completely around it. (You wouldn't do this for other courses.)

The rest of the report must support that thesis with appropriate evidence. (If you can't answer the question satisfactorily, then be candid about that and in the report show why you can't answer it.) NOTE: Because this is to be a formal documented paper, you'll need to annotate it whenever you refer to a source of information other than yourself.

A list called "Works Cited" follows the main body of the report on a separate page. This is a list of the works that you refer to in your text. The term "Works Cited" is more specific than "Bibliography" and is therefore preferable. (The list of works cited does not count as one of the pages mentioned above, in "Scope.")

NOTE: You may use either the MLA or the APA system. (I'd use the one most like that used in your major field of study.)

Don't worry about an introduction or a conclusion. (But go ahead and include them if you feel like it.) NOTE: A true conclusion is different from a summary. And an introduction is not merely a catchy beginning.
 
 

ATTRIBUTION AND DOCUMENTATION

This is to be a formal, documented report. Therefore, all references to other persons' ideas or words (including paraphrases, indirect quotations, and direct quotations) must be attributed to their sources, using parenthetical notation and a list of works cited. Check my handout called "Attribution and Documentation" for the form. Remember: use parenthetical ("in-text") notation; do not use footnotes or endnotes.