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Metro State Writing Center
*Based on the Turabian style research statement:
I am working on X to find out Y so that others can better understand Z.
Be as specific as possible—identify key words you might use in a search
*I am working on the topic of -
Use the words “how” or “why” so that questions need explaining—record your sources
*Because I want to find out how/why -
The most interesting, important point your paper will make and what else needs explaining
*To help others understand -
Consider why you are writing—what might you want others to do or to think?
*And they might use my work to -
Think about their levels of knowledge and interest to guide your research and level of detail.
*These others are -
*Based on The Craft of Research, 4th Edition
By Booth, Colomb, Williams, Bizup, and Fitzgerald
Statements requiring explanation and reasonable discussion
*What should we understand? My main point is -
Reasons are abstract ideas or theories, and evidence refers to real things
*How do we know? The reasons, facts, and data to back this up are -
Questions, objections, evidence to the contrary, or other reasonable points of view
*But what about . . . ? Other ways of thinking about this are -
*How is my point better, how do alternatives relate to it?
Explain the assumptions behind, connections between, and limits of any claims
*What is my reasoning? My claim is true because -
*My claim is limited to -