Writing Center Archives Vol. 1, Issue 1 at
Please note that this is an archival copy. It has not been changed from the original; as such, not all links will work properly! For the most up-to-date information, check out the Writing Center web site or associated Evergreen web sites.
Write On
Weekly writing information and resources from the Evergreen Writing Center
Vol. 1, Issue 1 [View Other Issues]
Visit the Writing Center's brand new Web site at www.evergreen.edu/writingcenter
This week’s theme: Research Papers
Quote of the Week
If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
Tip of the Week: Leading Questions
The first step in research is creating a leading question about the topic you would like to explore. Your question will direct your research. By viewing your research as an attempt to answer a specific question you will be able to conduct a clear and focused investigation. If you begin your research without a leading question, your research is in danger of lacking a central point.
After choosing a topic that interests you and fulfills program expectations, generate a list of possible leading questions by considering the following:
- What question/s do you already have about the topic?
- What are possible connections you could explore between your topic and other class themes?
- Is there already a debate over this topic that you could evaluate?
- What specific event or individual could you investigate in order to make conclusions about your topic?
For more information on research, as well as on many other writing topics, visit the Handout section of our brand new Web site.
Web Site Review –www.ipl.org/div/aplus/stepfirst.htm
The dreaded research paper: mere mention of its name is enough to trigger a fight-or-flight response in more than a few student psyches. Length is perhaps the most intimidating aspect of a research paper. The prospect of writing five, ten, or even fifteen or twenty solid pages can feel anywhere from daunting to downright impossible.
Process and planning are always important when writing any paper, but they become absolutely crucial when it comes to research papers. That’s why we recommend visiting the Internet Public Library’s research paper section at www.ipl.org/div/aplus/stepfirst.htm.
Here you’ll find a very useful step-by-step approach to writing a research paper. From discovering and choosing a topic, to gathering information, to actually writing the paper, IPL has broken down the research paper into understandable and manageable stages.
www.ipl.org/div/aplus/stepfirst.htm
Writing Center News
"Beginning Your Research" Open Workshop
Wednesday, April 9th, 4:30-6:00pm, Library 3500
Come check out our first open workshop of the quarter! This workshop will help you plunge directly into your research and writing process. We will discuss leading questions, research strategies, and project organization.
This spring, the Writing Center will be presenting an entire series of open workshops, from "Outlines and Organization" to "Writing Evaluations". For a complete list of workshops, check out the Workshop section of our Web site.
Stump the Tutors
Each week in this section, we'll answer questions on various writing-related issues submitted by our readers.
Stop by the Writing Center in Library 3407 and drop your question in our Stump the Tutors box.