Unit2. Overview

ESL 112 Unit 2: Pre-research Portfolio
Student Assignment Prompt (15% of final grade)

Purpose: To guide you through the first stage of the research process beginning from choosing a topic and continuing through collecting/analyzing background information and writing a first draft thesis statement and outline. You will become familiar with online resources to help collect pre-research information and learn how to explain this information in your own words.

Type of Assignment:  This unit will help you organize critical background information into one document to prove to yourself and your instructor that you are ready for advanced stages of research.

Task: Your pre-research information will be submitted in one “portfolio” as a collection of many smaller elements. An electronic template will be provided.


Students type their IRP pre-research work in this column.
Step 1: Choose and justify an IRP topic
A definitive choice of topic and a justification of its compatibility for this research paper assignment
Step 2: Investigate the issue
A brief description of the problem or issue that is being investigated (informal website sources are admissible as links)
Step 3: Choose and justify an organization
A choice of organization or government website, along with a justification of its compatibility for this research paper assignment
Step 4: Investigate causes of the issue
A brief description of the causes of the issue or problem that is being investigated (informal website sources are admissible as links, particularly the organization’s website)
Step 5: Choose 3 actions of your organization
A choice of 3 actions that the organization is taking to solve the problem, along with the website links to the description of each action on the organization’s website
Step 6: Analyze the 3 actions
A brief analysis of each of the above-mentioned actions, identifying potential weaknesses and “researchability” of each
Step 7: Clarify your purpose
A thesis statement that provides the purpose of the paper and the three actions of the organization that will be addressed in the paper
Step 8: Outline
A rough outline of how the paper will be structured/organized
Step 9: Think ahead
A brief statement of future plans and thoughts in terms of finding sources

Source Requirements: Website of selected organization, CQ Researcher, and other non-academic reliable internet sources

Plagiarism Disclaimer: Since you will learn what plagiarism is, its consequences, and how to avoid it in this unit, you will be responsible for submitting a portfolio that is free from plagiarism. Explanations in the portfolio must be written in your own words to demonstrate understanding of the information. 


Deadlines/Timeline: Mar, 14 (Friday) 11:55 p.m. sharp/ Compass2g.

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