Observation 4--Research Freewrite

After you have thought a bit about what interests you for your research project, freewrite about your research ideas in order to get a concrete understanding of your topic. You might decided to write out the answers to the questions provided in the Prewriting Checklist on pages 133-134 or the At a Glance box on p. 113. Then, develop your sentences into a three-paragraph freewrite.

1. In the first paragraph, introduce your research paper topic and describe what you think the main focus of the paper might be. Include a tentative thesis in this paragraph.

2. In the second paragraph, discuss the sources that you intend to use.

3. In the third paragraph, speculate on what obstacles you foresee in this project and/or what you anticipate to be the most difficult part of the assignment.

If appropriate, you might want to use an image to complement your written text. Pick an image that makes an argument or represents the focus of your project. Examine the sample student writing to see how you can use an image rhetorically.

When you are done, show your answers to your instructor or your peers for feedback.

Examples: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_alfano_envision_2/64/16465/4215197.cw/content/index.html