UNIT 15 STRATEGIES TO PREWRITING THE RESEARCH PAPER: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH PAPER, DISCOVERING SUBJECTS, CHOOSING AND LIMITING A SUBJECT, GATHERING INFORMATION, ANALYZING, EVALUATING SOURCES

STRATEGIES TO PREWRITING THE RESEARCH PAPER: INTRODUCTION

TO THE RESEARCH PAPER, DISCOVERING SUBJECTS, CHOOSING AND

LIMITING A SUBJECT, GATHERING INFORMATION, ANALYZING,

EVALUATING SOURCES

 

Task 1 Read the paragraph about the research paper and write the answer to the

question: How can you gain knowledge about writing the research paper?

Introduction to the Research Paper

Введение в исследовательскую работу

A research paper is a composition based on research drawn from books, periodicals,

and interviews.

The research paper is an important tool of gaining knowledge on any subject,

including the unique features of different countries in the world. When you read about a

subject of interest, you often learn something new. When you go further and analyze and

evaluate what you have read, you learn even more. However, if you go still further, and

write a research paper about what you have learned, you have made the information of your

own.

 

Task 2 Read about the trends of discovering subjects. Say what they are.

Discovering Subjects

Поиск тем исследования

When you search for ideas of writing, you can explore two trends. One is inside you –

your thoughts and experiences. The other one is outside – the classes you take, the books

you enjoy, the news stories you read. Therefore, to find an interesting subject, ask yourself

questions about these kinds of activities.

 

Task 3 Study the guidelines for Choosing and Limiting a Subject.

Choosing and Limiting a Subject

Выбор и сужение темы исследования

After you have explored your thoughts and experiences, use the following guidelines

to help you choose one idea as a subject.

Guidelines for Choosing a Subject

Choose a subject you would like to know more about, that would interest your

audience and can be adequately covered in a research paper of about

2, 000 words (or 7 typed pages), on which there is likely to be sufficient information in the

library.

When you are satisfied that you can find enough information, your next step is to

limit your subject and give it a clear focus. The subject of black holes in space, for

example, is broad enough to fill a whole book. Within that subject, though, are more

specific subjects such as “how Einstein’s work predicted the possibility of black holes”;

“how black holes are created”; or “how instruments are used to search for black holes.”

One way to limit your subject is to ask yourself a series of “what about” questions.

Each question helps you focus on a more specific aspect of a broad subject. The following

model shows how to use “what about” questions to narrow down the broad subject of

computers.

Example: Limiting a subject

BROAD SUBJECT computers

FIRST QUESTION What about computers?

MORE LIMITED how computers help people with disabilities

SECOND QUESTION What about computers and people with disabilities?

MORE LIMITED how computers help people with disabilities in language, vision,

and motion THIRD QUESTION What about computers’ helping with language, vision, and

motion?

SUITABLE LIMITED recent developments and successes in computers’ helping

people with disabilities in language, vision, and motion