English IIMr. SallyJan. 2014

AN INTRO TO RESEARCH

AND DEBATE

• Report is what you do in Junior High and potentially Freshmen year

1960’s Research?

Essay is a step up from that“Big Boy” paper

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “REPORT”

AND “ESSAY”

Report = “all about” a certain topic

Essay = answer/address a question/problem using research, evidence, and statistics to create an argument

REPORT VS. ESSAY

The best research papers begin with a question because… Questions help you to find direction.

Questions help you to narrow your scope.

Be careful of questions that are too broad. Make sure that your question is relevant to the

length of your paper.

Most students use research questions that are not focused enough.

HOW TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH QUESTION?

Too Broad (report):

---- What is Attention Deficit Disorder?

More Focused (essay):

---- Is diet an effective treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder?

RESEARCH QUESTIONS CONT…

Status Quo: “the existing state of affairs regarding social and political issues”

Simply put, “the way it stands, currently”

Once you have selected a topic for an essay/debate, you must first establish the STATUS QUO!

THE STATUS WHAT?!

Negative: argues to maintain/keep things they way they are.

Affi rmative: argues to change the current situation and enact a resolution.

LET’S TAKE SIDES

TOPIC: Same-sex Marriage in the State of Illinois

Research Question?Status Quo?Affirmative?Negative?

LET’S PRACTICE…

Research Question: Should Same-Sex Marriage be legal in the State of Illinois?Status Quo: Same-sex marriage is recognized by the State of Illinois as of November 20, 2013.Negative: Illinois State Law should CONTINUE to recognize Same-Sex Marriage.Affi rmative: Same-Sex Marriages SHOULD NOT be recognized under Illinois State Law. (Civil Unions?)

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE…

How/where can we find good, reliable information regarding our topic?Wikipedia?Google?What else?

RESEARCH AND FINDING SOURCES

Library online DatabasesWhat are they?How do we access them?Why are they the BEST?

Let’s take a look at a few of the articles from this database…

BEST PLACE TO LOOK…

The two articles you have in front of you present the issue of the death penalty. One article in in support of the death penalty while the other is calling for a world-wide ban of the death penalty.

In partners, read both articles and underline what could be considered FACTS, STATISTICS, and OPINIONS.

ALSO, identify aspects that pertain to EHTOS, PATHOS, LOGOS

RESEARCH ESSAYS