Research in English

In English, your starting point should always be your own interaction with a text. Read the text for yourself, a few times if possible. Spend some time thinking about it, and do some of your own writing. During that process you might develop some questions: “How do other readers view Jim’s role in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?” or “What was happening in the world when George Orwell wrote Animal Farm?” In order to find the best sources to support your ideas, take a look at what others have said, argued, and questioned, evaluate each source’s validity and relevance, demonstrate an understanding of the material, and create a coherent argument that discusses and analyzes the research found. The research process will allow you the opportunity to investigate your topic thoroughly, raise questions, offer possible answers, and synthesize the information found.