Junior Composition and Conversation,
IACD, English Department, Fu Jen
Research Paper 1 2 3

* The following are guidelines and suggestions made for you to have a clearer idea of what doing research paper is like in your junior year.
   The rules are subject to change each year by the teachers.
 

1.  Choosing an appropriate topic and writing a proposal:
 
Main points
What to Consider: 
  • Your interest and specialties. 
  • Whether they involve any questions. 

    • Whether the scope is manageable.
What to avoid: 
  • Over-controversial topic (e.g. abortion) or questions whose answer involves value judgment.

    • What you have no knowledge of but are only interested in.
  • What is research paper?
    1. A research paper is a coherent and logically developed presentation of a thesis, a position taken on a topic, based on the research you have done on this topic. 

      2.  
    2. A research paper is not a synthesis paper.  In other words, the thesis, or your major argument, should contain your original point; it should not be just a synthesis of facts or other people's views.    (For instance, a summary of the features of Confucianism will not do.)  (How original your argument is depends on the subject you choose.) 

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    3. A research paper is not an opinion paper, in which you present your personal views or values.  (For instance, the argument "cohabitation is not good for college girls" is not that of a research paper, since the idea of "not good" is too general a value judgment.  However, it can be turned into a research paper if you do a statistical and/or case study of how college girls suffer more than boys emotionally, economically, physically and socially in cohabitation.)   In other words, your major argument should be well supported by facts and reason (the existing studies, case studies and/or the statistics) but not your personal belief.   In developing the argument, you should also refute all the possible counter arguments. 

      4.  
  • Before choosing your topic, consider:
    1. What subject you are interested in and good at, as well as whether there is anything controversial or problematic in this area.  (In other words, whether you can ask a learned question of this subject.)

      2.  
    2. What you have learned in college and which direction you may take after graduation.   (You research paper may serve as your writing sample when you apply for a graduate program.)

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    3. The scope of the question/subject you are interested in.  (For instance, "College Students' View of Love" is too broad a topic.)

      4.  
    4. Whether there are enough resources locally (in the libraries or the possible survey targets.  Be careful not to discuss Taiwanese students' views of contraception with only the statistics on American students you've found in some books.)

      5.  
      Topics which are not possible for you: 
      • The Life of Blue Whale -- unless you are a marine biologist and know what's controversial in this area. 
      • Japanese Personnel Management Styles vs. the American ones -- unless you double major in MBA and have actual targets (Japanese and American companies) to study.

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      Topics which can be quite difficult--though not impossible-- for you: 
      • Too controversial topics -- such as abortion and  death penalty.

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  • proposal format (a suggestion; ask your teacher to decide what format s/he needs)

2. Research 

3. Final Products: 
 
final paper requirements 
paper format: 
  • MLA format: 
Abstract

Research Paper Conference