A research essay is a common academic assignment which students from all levels and disciplines will be expected to write. Besides serving as a learning experience, a research essay functions to enhance and improve the writing skills of students. Additionally, research essays also serve to build the critical thinking skills and analytical abilities of students, helping them to become better citizens of society.
Like all other academic assignments, research essays need to have a clear topic. The research essay topic can either be assigned by the instructor or students may be given the choice of selecting their own topic. In some cases, students may only be assigned very broad topics which they can use to develop their own topics and thesis statements.
While writing research essays, students should take care to see that the topic is not too broad and is within the realms of their discipline or subject of study. Once students are confident that their broad topic is related to their field of study, they can narrow it down further. For instance, students taking a course in psychology and counselling could be assigned a research essay topic like ‘sexual abuse’. This is too broad a topic for writing a research essay and students should conduct some research to narrow down the topic.
Depending upon the availability of material, students can draft a clear thesis statement like ‘the effects of sexual abuse on children’, or ‘the effects of sexual abuse on sexuality in later life’. This provides students the ability to narrow down their research and focus on any one aspect related to sexual abuse. A narrow research essay topic will also enable students to look for specific information rather than running in circles and not knowing what to focus on their research essay.
Research Paper Assignment: The Benefit of Using Note Cards
A major problem that students face in attempting a research paper assignment is the abundance of information available. Searching through this abundant information and extracting relevant information in the required sequence is a Herculean task.
Note cards lighten the burden of sifting and condensing information in research paper assignments. Knowing how to use note cards is important in the extraction of relevant information for research paper assignments.
Basic information in the use of note cards for research paper assignments:
- In the search for information select only the sources that are relevant to the research in your assignment.
- Having selected the relevant sources, decide on the manner in which notes will be taken. They may be in the form of direct quotes or paraphrased. To avoid plagiarism, it is safer to paraphrase.
- Prepare sufficient note cards of the size 4×6 inches. Make notes for use in a research paper assignment with a pen.
- Make notes for a research paper assignment only one side of the note card.
- Enter the source details on the top of the card before making any notes. This will help during referencing in a research paper assignment.
- Incorporate only one idea from a source for a research paper assignment on one note card. Use separate note cards for additional ideas.
- Using a pencil make a notation on the other side of the note card. This notation relates to the point the note card addresses for a research paper assignment.
- Ensure making duplicating or contradictory note cards. This will assist in the defence of a research paper assignment.
This basic information on note cards will make extracting of information for research papers assignments easier.