Associate Level Material
Appendix F
Research Plan
As part of your Research Plan, you must draft a research question for your research paper. A research question, which is more specific and focused than a general topic, is the question that you will answer in your paper. For example, if your general area of interest is Social Security, a potential research question might ask, “How might low-income families save more money under a reformed Social Security plan that includes personal retirement accounts?”
As you develop a research question, keep in mind that you will research sources with both supporting and differing viewpoints. Do not select a narrow or one-sided issue that will limit your research; instead, develop a research question that lends itself to further exploration and debate.
|What is your topic or area of interest? |Drugs. Marijuana. I have always felt that if it was legalized |
| |it would help the economy. Research has shown that marijuana |
| |has benefited cancer patients and other diseases. |
| | |
|In what ways is this topic appropriate for a persuasive essay? |It is relevant to our healthcare and economy. Marijuana could |
| |provide revenue if legal. It would create jobs. There has been |
| |much debate over the legalization of marijuana. |
| | |
|What is your research question? |How could the legalization benefit us as United States |
|...