When beginning a research project, think about this basic question: Why do we conduct research? We conduct research to discover knowledge we do not yet possess. While this might seem obvious, it is often distorted by a writing process that contradicts the process of discovery. Quite often, students will begin writing a research essay before they have even started their research. Attempting to draft an essay before finding source material places writers in a difficult position, propelling them to find sources that say what they think they need to say rather than investigating what information is out there.
A common example of writers starting in the wrong place is drafting a thesis statement before attempting any other writing. In a research essay, the thesis statement is the component that carries the highest stakes. A thesis must be a concise, confident, comprehensive statement of the essay’s topic and the writer’s position on that topic, and it must convince a reader that both are relevant. (“Oh yeah? So what?”) To accomplish these goals, a writer must have already taken the steps needed to be a credible expert.
Trying to draft a thesis first, before discovering any new knowledge, is fortune-telling. It is trying to predict what the research will reveal before actually knowing what it does reveal. The consequence is that writers find themselves cornered, trying to find sources that support their prematurely constructed thesis and “cherry picking” sources to back up a predetermined conclusion. This task is exceptionally difficult (and intellectually dishonest).
Instead of attempting to invent a thesis statement first, try writing out what questions need to be answered to fulfill the assignment. This handout lists things to learn about the topic before making a claim or asserting a position. Producing an initial draft of writing in the form of a research query will guide the initial stages of the research process. As potential sources are identified, they can be tested against these questions and discarded if they are not useful.
Here in the University Writing Center, we often use the term “drafting process.” While rough drafts do turn into final drafts, using a drafting process is more involved than simply generating a rough draft and then polishing it. A drafting process requires a writer to generate multiple, individual chunks of writing throughout all the stages of a research project.
Some of these process drafts, such as invention drafts (writing done at the onset of a project), will ultimately not survive to the final version. Other drafts might survive in large chunks to the final, such as drafts written as source material is incorporated. The final draft, however, doesn’t begin to take shape until multiple previous drafts have been constructed. It is this writing, produced while immersed in the research and discovery stage, that allows a writer’s ideas to develop, evolving into the comprehensive and concise position present in the final version.
If the idea of writing these process drafts without an outline is too much to consider, consider the merits of creating a living, evolving annotated bibliography. Annotated bibliographies are very common assignments; they are excellent when used as a structured process-writing mechanism. To begin an annotated bibliography, start digging for information by skimming sources’ abstracts, if available. When a source seems interesting, read it more closely, then create a rough citation for it. Underneath the citation, write two short paragraphs: one that summarizes and another that analyzes holistically. This means specifying how it might help to answer one of the research questions, establishing background for the topic, or developing a particular point of view on the topic. These summary and analysis paragraphs ARE the first rough draft. Refer to our handout on Writing an Annotated Bibliography for a detailed explanation of this tool.
The annotated bibliography is just one approach to creating process drafts. Another approach is drafting based on sources. To do this, choose a source that has potential and read it carefully, pulling out any passages that could be developed to answer the questions or support a point of view. For example, if there is a passage with qualitative data that supports the quantitative data already found in other sources, include this information in the analysis. If it is clear that quoting this source would be beneficial, stop and do a little writing. Type out the quote, give it a signal phrase that provides some context, and then write out a statement about this evidence. It provides another scientifically generated set of data that supports the argument being made. This quote/analysis strategy will create a collection of usable material very quickly, and it will ensure that the drafting is rooted in textual evidence and analysis.
The hard truth is that research is never finished, and figuring out where the scope of research ends can be a pretty tricky call to make; however, there are a few obvious places to call it quits. How many outside sources does the assignment require? Are there that many sources that are relevant and usable in the annotated bibliography? If there are, that’s a good sign that final drafting might be the next step.
Another method would be to compare the sources and drafting completed thus far to the original research inquiry or assignment. How many of the sources are closely applicable and support the argument well? Research overwhelmingly confirms that the best predictor of student writing success is the level of confidence writers have in their own work. If writers can look at their drafting and genuinely feel satisfied in what they have produced, the chances that the writing is solid are surprisingly good. Be confident moving into the final drafting stage.
Once writers are well informed on the topic, confident in the answers to the research questions, and resolute in their position, final drafting should begin. There are several ways to dive in.
One option is to let the final draft grow as a microbe grows in a petri dish. Start bringing together all the quotes and the drafting paragraphs and see if they can be put into a logical order that allows the topic and the position to unfold organically. Start adding new writing where there is an opportunity. This might be in the form of a transitional phrase, or perhaps it is a further extension into the already-drafted analysis.
Another method for initiating the final draft is to refer back to the original research question and see if it is possible to produce a cohesive response to the questions initially posed. This exercise will push the writing process firmly toward defending a thesis statement, which can be quite beneficial.
At any point in this process, whether it be the first day the paper is assigned or the night before the final draft is due, University Writing Center consultants are available to help. In a one-to-one consultation, a writer and a consultant can discuss whether the source material is useful, how to begin drafting, developing a thesis, looking for and incorporating new research, or any other concerns.
Schedule an appointment by giving us a call at (828) 262-3144 or schedule via our online appointment portal at Trac Cloud. Have the assignment sheet, any pre-writing/draft(s), the course syllabus, and any specific questions about drafting and revising the paper available. If these documents don’t exist yet, no worries; come in for a session to discuss how to get started.