Prompt: To get you thinking about your research paper, I’d like you to generate a list of questions related to topics that interest you. To get the project off to a strong start I’ve asked you to compose an exploratory draft, or a “question draft.”

You aren’t yet making arguments, thesis statements or even reading sources.  You are just thinking of interesting topics based off what you know and perhaps some preliminary research (i.e. quick web searches, wikis, or just browsing article titles or book chapters).

Some things to keep in mind regarding your exploratory draft:

1. The exploratory/question draft should focus upon questions related to your issue that you are interested in researching.Try to generate about a dozen questions which go in many different directions with your potential areas of study at the center.
2. The purpose of this writing exercise is to find more specific avenues of study.  For example, if a topic that interests you is Motown music you could ask: How has Motown music influenced contemporary genres? How did the Motown record label affect the record industry of the time? Did Motown music influence/challenge/change white culture? What was the political climate of Motown? How is the women’s movement represented in Motown music?  The point is to generate potential arguments/positions to explore.  Preliminary research may be helpful for some of you.
3. Reminder: A research paper is not a book report.  You will be making claims, drawing conclusions and demonstrating critical and analytical thought. But you won’t have a position or arguments just yet, so don’t worry.  However, asking questions likes the ones above ask you to go further than just presenting what others have said, they ask you to prove something or convince the reader of something.

Please bring a copy of a one-page exploratory draft to class.