Research Paper on the 60s

The research report contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, like any other academic essay. However, the body paragraphs are organized according to an agreed-upon sequence and the conclusion is followed by a bibliography and listing of researched material and research instruments, resulting in the following overall typical organization:

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results or Findings

• Discussion and Conclusion

• Sources of Information (including a bibliography)

 

• Appendices

In the introduction of a research report, researchers usually present their empirical research project and the reasons for the study. They also provide necessary background information and often review prior research into the same questions. They also present their research questions, that is, the questions that have inspired their research and that they would like to answer. Introductions for most research reports will be longer than one paragraph, and can grow to several pages or even a chapter in a book-length report. A good example of a chapter-length introduction is the “Introduction” to Nickel and Dimed.

Lets return to the general topic of CSI shows and adapt it to fit one of the options of the English 101 research assignment as a specific example. The general theme of the research is gender and work. It would be fun to explore that theme with the main characters in all three current CSI shows. All the main characters of the shows are crime scene investigators, and consider themselves scientists. Some initial research questions could be:

1)   Are there an equal number of male and female scientists on the shows?

2)   Do men and women do the same type of work in the shows?

3)   How are the male characters portrayed?

4)   How are the female characters portrayed?

The introduction to the eventual report would orient the readers to the show, then present these research questions. Since the shows are still relatively new, it is doubtful that prior research would have answered these questions, but part of the larger research project would include finding any relevant prior work on this topic. In addition, several studies have explored sexist stereotypes in the popular media, and found that women scientists are still relatively rare. A summary of such relevant prior work would then round out the introduction.

The next section of the research report is the Methods section. It presents the ways researchers have gone about answering their research questions. For my CSI research project, I would have to survey a reasonable number of shows to answer my research questions. I could observe at least four randomly selected episodes of each series, for a total of twelve. I would have to keep track of how many of each shows criminologists are men and women, of what work they do, and of how each man and woman is portrayed. It is likely that I would start to ask more questions as I go through this empirical phase of the research process. In the eventual report, I would explain the additional questions as well as explain the basis for any value judgments. For instance, to answer Research Question 2 above, I have to define what I mean by the same type of work.

Once research methods and decisions are sufficiently explained and justified, its time to write the next section, Results or Findings. This is the section that presents the answers to the studys research question and is usually the longest part of a research report. For my possible research report on Work and Gender in CSI shows, I would probably subdivide the results section into four parts, one for each research question.

In the last written part of the research report, the Discussion and Conclusion section, researchers usually summarize their most important findings and discuss any new questions that have been raised by their study. My possible research project on Work and Gender in CSI shows is quite likely to raise some interesting new questions. I can say that men and women do not do criminal investigations in equal numbers on these shows, but that the female criminologists are portrayed as just as intelligent and scientific as the male ones. This raises several questions: Does the unequal number of women and men on the show reflect reality? Is it due to audience expectations and preferences? I would not be able to answer these new questions in my discussion and conclusion. I would just raise them and perhaps speculate a bit.

The final two sections of a research report are Sources of Information (including a bibliography) and Appendices. In APA format, all documents and other sources of information consulted as part of the research (e.g., web pages about CSI) are listed under a section called References. In addition, if the research involved instruments like statistical procedures or specially designed surveys, these are also listed at the very end as Appendices. Once you have completed these final two sections, you have completed a research report.

Use SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from  the information you find.  Basically, tell me three things you learned from the material and then why you chose the one subject you look up.  You can also back it up with any of the information from the modules.  

Did you find conflicting information on the subject or information that was new to you?

For example:  For the JFK assassination, look up all the conspiracies and conflicting information on this sad day in our nation’s history.  

 Rubric:

4 50 points	Focused topic throughout writing. Writing is organized. Many supporting details from text. Writing contains your own ideas and thinking. Creative word choice. Writing has smooth sentences of different lengths. Writing contains few grammar, spelling, and mechanics errors.
3 40 points	Focused topic is generally maintained. Writing is organized with some lapses. Some supporting details from text. Writing contains some of your own ideas and thinking. Some creative word choice. Writing has smooth sentences of different lengths. Writing contains some grammar, spelling, and mechanics errors.
2 20 points	Topic may include unrelated ideas. Writing has an organization with lapses. Supporting details from text are not fully developed. Your own ideas and thinking were not included. Few creative word choices. Writing has choppy sentences and uses mostly simple sentences. Writing contains many grammar, spelling, and mechanics errors.
1 10 points	Writing has no clear topic. Writing has little or no organization. Little use of details from the text. Limited word choice. Sentences are difficult to read and understand. Writing has major grammar, spelling, and mechanics errors.