Introduction to the Concept of Research

Introduction

Accurate and thorough research is as essential to your essay as a well developed thesis statement. For some, research is an easy task, for others it is an arduous prospect that is often put off until the last minute or done half heartedly. No matter what your feelings are about performing research, all can agree that it is a time consuming, but necessary task. The widespread availability of Internet access has made the ability to perform essay research much easier than ever before in history. Even if you do not have access to a computer on a daily basis, which is unlikely, nearly every local library provides free access to the World Wide Web. If you are a student, your school, college, or university will have computer and Internet access as well. So, there really is no excuse to delay the research process. This lesson will provide tools and knowledge about performing research that will help expedite the process for you.

There are several questions beginning essay writers ask in regard to research; here we clear up any ambiguity concerning the questions most asked by new writers.

Why do I have to perform research? Can't I write my essay using just the knowledge and material that I have?

The answer to this question is a resounding NO. You cannot write intelligently about any subject without having a well rounded and full understanding of that subject. Whether you are writing about the need to hire a call center supervisor for your company or the intricacies of Shakespearean plays, you cannot claim proficiency on the topic until you have explored the subject fully. Additionally, in order to show that your argument has merit, you must provide legitimate support for your stance, and, adversely, opposing views and exactly why you discount them. Very, very rarely a professor or teacher will specifically request that you not use outside research and to stick only to the textbook provided for your course along with any lecture notes and knowledge learned in the classroom. In this case, while you do not have to tackle the job of using a library and the Internet, you must still use whatever materials that were provided to find supporting arguments and documentation.



Where do I start?

You can start your research by hitting the Internet or the library. If you have created a good outline, it should serve as your guide for creating search phrases online or when using the book catalog in the library. The important thing is to get started. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can gather what you need to develop a strong essay.

How many sources should I use?

You should gather as many pertinent sources as you can initially, because you will not be using all of them. You will, at some point, narrow down your supporting documentation to only those necessary to make your argument effective.

In regard to how many, you will want to use enough sources to support your thesis and an additional one or two to provide opposing opinions, if any. Your paper should not be composed entirely of outside sources and research; you must use your own arguments and opinions as the backbone of your paper. Three to five supporting sources should be plenty for an average, 5-10 page paper. Longer papers will require more, shorter papers less. The most important thing is to use good judgment.

Do I have to give credit to my sources?

Absolutely! You should always give credit to others for their ideas and writing. This is called "citing your sources."

Research is a skill that can be developed and expanded upon. As you write more papers, you will become increasingly more proficient at finding what you need quickly and with ease.