Introduction to Research for Essay Writing

About this course: Course 4: Introduction to Research for Essay Writing This is the last course in the Academic Writing specialization before the capstone project. By the end of this course, you will be able to complete all the steps in planning a research paper. After completing this course, you will be able to: - choose appropriate research topics for college classes - write detailed outlines for research papers - find source material for research papers - take and organize good notes for research - use appropriate academic tone and language - document sources by creating a Works Cited list in MLA format - avoid plagiarizing your sources

Created by:  University of California, Irvine

• Taught by:  Tamy Chapman, Instructor, International Programs

  University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education

• Taught by:  Helen Nam, Instructor

  International Programs, UCI Extension

Basic Info Course 4 of 5 in the Academic English: Writing Specialization Commitment 4 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from your peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

University of California, Irvine Since 1965, the University of California, Irvine has combined the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. UCI’s unyielding commitment to rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and leadership and character development makes the campus a driving force for innovation and discovery that serves our local, national and global communities in many ways.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Course Introduction



This is the last course in the Academic English: Writing specialization. In this course, you will learn all of the steps to writing a research paper. You will learn how to choose topics, where to do your research, and how to plan the research paper. You will also master your understanding of using sources and avoiding plagiarism.


1 video, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Pre-Course Survey
2. Video: Course Introduction Video
3. Reading: Message About Peer Reviews

Introduction to Research



In this first module, you will learn about research assignments in American universities. You will practice choosing topics for different assignments. Then you will learn about choosing academic sources and evaluating them for reliability. These are important steps for getting your research off to a good start for any research assignment.


3 videos, 6 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Intro Video
2. Reading: Introduction to Research Writing
3. Reading: Lecture Objectives
4. Video: Choosing a Research Topic Video Lecture
5. Reading: Sample Research Assignments
6. Reading: Choosing Search Terms Practice
7. Peer Review: Practice Writing Research Questions
8. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz
9. Reading: Lecture Objectives
10. Video: Finding and Evaluating Academic Sources Video Lecture
11. Reading: Evaluating Sources Practice
12. Peer Review: Practice Finding Sources

Graded: Introduction to Research Quiz

WEEK 2


Doing Research and Planning the Paper



In this module, you will learn more about finding sources. Then you'll learn about how to be organized in your research by taking good notes on your sources. Also, you'll learn about writing an annotated bibliography, which is a common assignment when writing a research paper in college.


4 videos, 8 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Video: Intro Video
2. Reading: Lecture Objectives
3. Video: on Finding Sources and Taking Notes Video Lecture
4. Reading: Creating an Annotated Bibliography
5. Reading: Sample Annotated Bibliographies
6. Reading: Annotated Bibliography Assignment
7. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz
8. Reading: Making an Outline
9. Reading: Lecture Objectives
10. Video: Making an Outline Video Lecture
11. Reading: Lecture Objectives
12. Video: Thesis Statements for Research Papers Video Lecture
13. Reading: Thesis Statements for Research Papers Practice
14. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz

Graded: Annotated Bibliography Assignment Feedback
Graded: Thesis Statement for Research Paper
Graded: Doing Research Quiz

WEEK 3


Language for Research Writing
In this module, you'll learn about the language used in writing a research paper. You'll learn about academic tone and language. Then you'll learn about using statistics and words from the Academic Word List in your writing.


4 videos, 9 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Video: Intro Video
2. Reading: Lecture Objectives
3. Video: Academic Tone and Language Video Lecture
4. Reading: Academic Tone and Language Practices
5. Reading: Academic Tone and Language Practice Key
6. Reading: Lecture Objectives
7. Video: Using Statistics in Writing Video Lecture
8. Reading: Using Statistics for Writing Practice
9. Reading: Additional Resources on Using Statistics
10. Reading: Academic Word List and Reported Speech Introduction
11. Reading: Lecture Objectives
12. Video: The Academic Word List and Reporting Verbs Video Lecture
13. Reading: Academic Word List Practice
14. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz

Graded: Using Statistics for Writing Peer Review
Graded: Language for Research Quiz

WEEK 4


on Citing Sources and Formatting
In this last module, you will learn more about citing sources in your research paper. You'll review MLA format and learn a little bit about APA format. Finally, you'll learn about some online resources that will make formatting your papers much easier.


3 videos, 9 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand

1. Video: Intro Video
2. Reading: Citing Sources Overview
3. Reading: Updates to MLA Format
4. Reading: Lecture Objectives
5. Video: Using Purdue Owl Video Lecture
6. Reading: Purdue Owl Practice
7. Peer Review: Purdue Owl Practice
8. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz
9. Reading: Resources for Formatting Research Papers
10. Reading: Lecture Objectives
11. Video: Using EasyBib Video Lecture
12. Reading: EasyBib Practice
13. Reading: EasyBib Practice Key
14. Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz
15. Reading: Learn !

Graded: Citing Sources and Formatting Quiz