University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
ENGL 113A | Approaches to University Writing A
Academic year:

2024
Views:

51

Pages:

2
Author:

esbrinavatb2

I-Search Paper:Alien Territories Description The I-Search paper is designed to teach the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic and the nature of research and discovery. As opposed to the standard research paper in which the writer usually assumes a detached and objective stance, the I-Search paper allows the writer to take an active role in the search, to hunt for facts and truths first hand, and to provide a step - by - step record of the discovery process. Format • • • What I Know, Assume, or Imagine The Search What I Discovered What I Know, Assume, or Imagine: Before conducting any formal research, write a section in which you explain to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what you imagine about your topic. For example, you are in the process of developing this section on what you already know, assume or imagine about the Internet. Your in-class timed writing can serve as a beginning of the I-Search process. The Search Test Your knowledge, assumptions, or conjectures by researching your topic thoroughly. For a traditional I-Search paper, you would be asked to consult books, articles magazines, newspapers, films, tapes, and other sources of information...and when possible, interview people familiar with your topic. Since your topic is the Internet, much of your research is already in process and will continue to be conducted in online spaces in addition to the above sources. Every time you connect online, take notes and be sure to write up your experience while it is still fresh. These notes will be vital for writing this section of your paper. Write this section of your paper in narrative form, recording the steps of the discovery process. Do not feel obligated to tell everything, but highlight the happenings and facts you uncover that were crucial to your hunt and contributed to your understanding of the topic. Document all your sources, using Works Cited format and an annotated bibliography of online resources. What I Discovered After conducting your search, compare what you thought you knew, assumed, or imagined with what you actually discovered; offer some personal commentary and draw some conclusions. For instance, your initial understanding of internet issues may have been rather hazy at the beginning of the semester. Pay careful attention to how your understanding of the Internet changes as you go. Keep lists of the positive and negative. Use the articles you have read to focus on an issue of importance to you. Works Cited At the close of this paper, you will provide a Works Cited page, documenting the sources you used in your paper. Since you will most likely have quite a few online sources, you will want to use Janice Walker's MLA style sheet for citing online sources.