Research Paper

1
Research Paper

• Approaches to Writing
• Using Rhetorical Methods
• ENGL 1102
• Dr. Brian Ray

2
Research Approaches

• Take a stand Position
• Speculate about Causes
• Propose a Solution

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Arguing a Position

• Take a stand on a issue
• Encourage your reader to agree with you
• Requires convincing support and reasonable
  argument

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Arguing a Position

• Thesis Your answer to the following question
  will form a working thesis
• What is my opinion on a controversial issue
  involving gender, and why do I believe this?

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Arguing a Position

• Example thesis
• The concept of the Glass Ceiling is a myth that
  is used to excuse the fact that women just arent
  as good as men in managing big businesses and is
  an attempt to blame men for womens own inherent
  weakness.

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Arguing a Position

• Key Ideas
• A focused presentation of the issue
• A clear, unequivocal statement of the writers
  position
• Clear, believable supporting reasons and evidence
• Anticipate and counterargue - briefly

7
Propose a Solution

• Identify a problem
• Propose a solution
• Give evidence in support of the solution

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Propose a Solution

• Thesis Your answer to the following question
  will form your working thesis
• What is your understanding of a gender related
  problem and what should be done about it and why
  (i.e., how will it solve the problem)?

9
Propose a Solution

• Example Thesis
• Womens sports in colleges are being denied fair
  funding and support. Since mens sports are much
  more nearly self-supporting, 80 percent of all
  public funding for college sports should be spent
  on womens collegiate athletics until such time
  as they are able to achieve the same popularity
  and success as mens collegiate sports.

10
Propose a Solution

• Key Ideas
• A clearly defined described problem
• A thoroughly described explained solution
• A reasonable well-supported argument
• Anticipate briefly answer potential objections
• Provide a brief overview evaluation of
  alternate solutions (not always necessary)

11
Speculate about Causes

• Explain a recognizable phenomenon or trend
• Examine the possible/probable causes
• Dont rely on ad hoc logical fallacies

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Speculate about Causes

• Thesis Your answer to the following question
  will form the working thesis
• What do I think are the possible causes of a
  gender related phenomenon or trend, and which is
  the most likely or most important?

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Speculate about Causes

• Example Thesis
• There are many reasons that women generally feel
  threatened by men within society today. An
  important one is the good-ole-boy network of
  unwritten laws favoring the man in any man-woman
  legal dispute, but the biggest one is
  televisions near-constant portrayal of women as
  victims of male sexual predators.

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Speculate about Causes

• Key Ideas
• A clearly defined explained phenomenon or trend
• A series of possible believable causes (at
  least 2 and usually no more than 4)
• A logical sequence of causes
• Effective convincing support of the cause and
  the subject
• A brief consideration of possible objections and
  alternate causes