SUNY Council on Writing Conference
April 20, 2002

Why Hobbits Have Big Feet:  More Solid Grounding for the Research Paper

Workshop Presentation

by

Marcia Littenberg and Margery L. Brown
SUNY Farmingdale
Department of English/Humanities

Our Composition: Rhetoric Research Paper Assignment

Research projects. You will complete three separate (short) research projects during the semester. Due at end of weeks 5, 10, 15. Credit for these projects is 60% of final grade. Students will work in three-person teams to complete the projects, but each person will be graded individually (no team grade). Each research project has three parts (FAQ's, Analysis and Assessment of the Issues, Argument). Each member of the team must be responsible for one part; responsibility rotates with each of the three projects; that is, you must try a different part for each of the three research projects and cannot, for example, do only the FAQ's. All members of the team are responsible for identifying web sites for research (each should find 10 sites) and evaluate for integrity, utility and validity of each site. This will be done during lab class time.

Part 1: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions): the team member responsible for this part must compose a series of 10 increasingly complex questions and answers about the subject.

Part 2: Analysis and Assessment of Issues: the team member responsible for this part must write a 2-3 page objective report on the issues involved and identify who speaks for these issues.

Part 3: Argument: the team member responsible for this part is required to write a 2-3 page essay offering a position pro or con on one or more of the issues and address the ethical questions identified through your research.  In addition, one team member is responsible for giving a short (2-3 min.) oral report on the group's project. This report might highlight problems in research, explain issues, argue a position or discuss differences of opinion within the group. Responsibility for the oral report should rotate among team members. This can also be done as a joint effort, with one person speaking at a time.

Your Workshop Assignment:

Working in three person teams, you will evaluate web pages found on the links page and choose five sites that are reliable sources.  After visiting the five sites, and determining what the issues are, you will compose ten FAQs (frequently asked questions) with answers that will give your reader an overview of the issues involved in making the movie Lord of the Rings   from the Tolkien trilogy.

Other Sample Assignments for More Advanced Classes:

Technical Communications (EGL 209) Sample Research Assignment:

Team Project: The class will be divided into three-person teams. Each team will produce a report on handicapped facilities on campus. The report will consist of three parts:

Each team member will write a draft of each section which will be graded. Rewrites of drafts are permitted. The team will combine their efforts to produce a final draft. (50% of the final grade divided as follows: 40% individual grades, 10% team grade)

Technical Writing (EGL 310) Sample Research Assignment:

Semester Research Project Description:

Part I: Presenting objective information: After researching available products, services, or treatments, the individual writes an objective description of the products, services, or treatment for the target audience.

For example, if the target audience is women seeking treatment for breast cancer, the individual researches the types of treatment available and describes them for the target audience.

Part II: Comparison: After researching the benefits, performance, cost, and outcome of available products, services, or treatments, the individual writes a comparison of the products, services, or treatment for the target audience.

For example, if the target audience is a family of four shopping for a mid-priced mini-van, the individual researches the available cars and compares them (like Consumer Reports) in terms of cost, performance, safety, handling, etc.

Part III: Recommendation: Uses an analysis of the information from Parts I and II to make a recommendation to the target audience.

For example, if the target audience is a boss who must decide on purchasing an e-mail program for the company, the individual would write a recommendation based on an analysis of the cost and performance of the program and the needs of the company.

We have found that structuring research assignments into three parts with due dates at five week intervals causes less stress to both students and instructors. Structuring research assignments in a format familiar to the students makes those assignments less threatening and causes students to perceive them as "doable." Requiring students to collaborate on evaluating sources and sharing information forces them to compare their own viewpoints which results in critical thinking as they defend and often amend their outlook. We have received much better, more original papers at all levels using this format.