Week 3-1

Why do we do research?

The Great Library

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Your job for the Great Library is to make a decision about a question, problem, or issue that is important to you, and about which you are uncertain.

Guidelines for Topic Selection

Your topic for the Great Library should be:

  • of personal importance to you--that is, you should care about the answer to the question.
  • of importance to some wider audience. So, not just what color you should dye your hair.
  • something you're comfortable discussing in public.
  • something you're willing to change your mind about.

Some Examples

  • Should I continue allowing my daughter to play high school football?
  • Has Disney ruined its major franchises?
  • Should I return to competitive dance after undergoing knee surgery?
  • Does Harry Potter fandom fill the same spiritual role as religion?
  • Why do people (mostly men) idolize Patrick Bateman?
  • Should my band sign with a record label?
  • Does TikTok have a negative impact on the music industry?
  • Which branch of the military will best prepare me for a future career in law enforcement?

Three Bad Ideas

  • Marijuana
  • Gun Control
  • Abortion

These papers almost always turn out badly. Sorry!

Brainstorming

  • Take out a sheet of paper. Number it 1-20.

  • When I say go, complete the following sentence as many times as you can:

  • You have 3 minutes.

    I am _________________.

What you have now is a list of identities, roles, activities, and beliefs that define you.

Go through your list and look for parts of your life where you face questions or uncertainty. What decisions are you trying to make? What issues are you trying to form an opinion on?

Try to build a list of possible topics for the Great Library.

Research Questions

A research question should be:

  • a question
  • that research can help
  • you make a decision about

A research question should be:

  • a question

    It should end in a question mark. A research question is not a statement.

  • that research can help

    If finding facts can't help us answer our question, it's probably not a great question for this project.

  • you make a decision about

    Our questions shouldn't be simple yes or no questions, or questions just about facts. A research question should require us to evaluate the information we find and make a decision about the answer.

Your Research Question will have a huge impact on how successful your paper is.

For next class, draft three possible Research Questions on three different topics.

A research question should be:

  • a question
  • that research can help
  • you make a decision about.