Exploratory Writing Exercise #2: Research Topic Evaluation
English 102-10
Exploratory Writing Exercise #2: Research Topic Evaluation
For your second writing exercise you are going to write a proposal for the research topic you
plan on working with this semester. This particular assignment WILL NOT require you to know
or understand the conventions of the academic genre of research proposals. Instead, I am simply
asking you to work with two writing styles that are commonly used in academic writing. The
first style is expository writing, where you purpose is to inform. The second style, persuasive
writing, is used when your goal is to convince your audience to agree with you.
NOTE: I am not looking for any specific research questions or problems from you at this stage in
your research process. In fact, for this writing exercise, I would strongly encourage you to leave
those more specific angles aside, and instead focus on exploring the topic more broadly for now.
The first part of this assignment is a brief explanation/description of your topic. You may choose
to include a description of your already existing knowledge regarding this topic, or maybe you’ll
describe what kind of knowledge you will need to learn in order to approach this topic
effectively and ethically as a researcher. This part of your writing exercise should help me
understand more fully what your topic is, as well as to get a sense of your thoughts regarding the
research you will need to conduct over the next few weeks.
The second component of this assignment will primarily contain the reasoning behind your
chosen topic. You will need to describe your thoughts regarding the question: Why is this
research topic important for you to work with? This section of your assignment can also be a
space where you include some of your thoughts for the possible directions your research may
take you, and what some potential outcomes of your work could be.
If you have chosen to work with a topic that would be considered “tired” (that is, the field is
already oversaturated with research and discussion on your topic) this would also be the place to
include some of your reasons for pursuing a topic like this, as well as your predictions regarding
how you can make an original contribution to the conversation on this topic. Please make sure
to pay close attention to the way you present and organize your information. Effective
arrangement of ideas is a key factor in achieving success in your persuasive writing.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your argument is not original simply because you thought of it. An
original argument or idea is one that has not been written about before. Your research projects
should ultimately be providing some kind of new insight into the perspectives surrounding your
topic, or into the topic itself.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this assignment is to push you to consider in more depth your interest
and motivations for pursuing your research topic. Additionally, by completing this writing
exercise you will more fully be able to understand your topic, and the work you’ll need to do this
semester to create a research writing portfolio.
Formatting
We will be using MLA formatting guidelines all semester, please also make sure that your
submission is written in 12pt. Times New Roman font and is double spaced. You can find the
MLA style guide online at Purdue OWL or in your EasyWriter textbook if you are unsure of
your formatting choices.
Assignment Requirements
For this assignment you should write approximately 300-400 words (the required minimum is
300). You are always welcome to write MORE than the minimum, or recommended, amount
especially if you need to do so to get to each component of the prompt.
The necessary components of this assignment are:
1) The identification of your general research topic.
2) A description of your topic and what makes it worth investigating.
3) Your reasoning for choosing the topic, and if working with a tired topic, your justification
for that choice.
4) Any predictions you may have for the original directions your research might take.
The prompts above contain specific questions to help you in your written responses.
Your writing exercises will be marked out of 5 points. Below is a rubric that outlines how I will
be evaluating/marking your writing exercises.
5 The assignment was turned in on time, completes the task(s) outlined in the
assignment sheet, and is the appropriate length.
4 The assignment might completes most, but not all, of the task(s) outlined in the
assignment sheet, but still meets the length requirements.
3 The assignment, completes most, but not all, of the task(s) outlined in the
assignment sheet, but fails to meet the length requirements.
2 The assignment completes SOME of the task(s) outlined in the assignment sheet,
and does not meet the length requirements.
1 The assignment fails to complete MOST of the task(s) outlined in the assignment
sheet, and/or significantly fails to meet the length requirement.
0 The assignment was never turned in, or was not submitted on time.
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