For Students – Researched Arguments


Successful research positively correlates to a student’s dedication to exploration and inquiry. In other words, the more curious a student or writer is about a given topic, the more likely that individual is to write about the subject with respect, discipline, and verve. Moreover, a researched argument is the de facto assignment of academia. Start preparing yourself now for its challenges. However, take note that making an argument gets easier with practice, which is why lawyers are often the experts of the genre. When writing an argument, it may help to remind yourself that the basic distinction between a claim and an argument is linguistic: An argument is a sentence which simply uses the verb argue, and uses it accurately.


Questions:

  • What does ‘doing research’ mean to you?
  • What has your previous experience of doing research been like? Do you enjoy doing it, avoid doing it, etc., and why?
  • What kind of research do you do/have you done?
  • What kind of research would you like to do more of?
  • What forms can research take? W
  • hat are the advantages/disadvantages of these methods?
  • How do the writers in this collection use research? That is, what function does research perform in their writing?



Consult Purdue OWL for more information on writing research papers.