Prof. Matsunaga - ENG 101 - Fall 2025: Home

Overview of Course Research Project

For this course, students will write an 8-page research paper on a topic of their choosing. In preparation for this, students will:

• brainstorm topics and learn how to narrow down topics and create research questions
• read articles on various topics to help engage students’ imagination and provide potential sources
• summarize, evaluate, and respond to at least two assigned readings
• write a “practice” 2-4 page research paper responding to / comparing two of the assigned readings
• learn how to use a library database to find additional sources
• learn how to find sources which are reliable and trustworthy

The final research paper will involve the following steps:

Step 1. Write a 2-page research proposal, which includes the topic and research question, the significance of the question, and a plan for completing the steps of the research.

Step 2. Create an annotated bibliography, using MLA style to cite and summarize 5 sources (one of which should be a print source rather than online).

Step 3. Create an outline for the research paper.

Step 4. Write the research paper, to include a title page, the body with research and conclusions, and a Works Cited page.