Reimagining the dreaded 'Research Paper'



Is this not what students look like
when writing?  But is this not what
WE look like when grading?!

This is a great article from the Chronicle of Higher Education about the importance of not getting ‘stuck’ in the research paper assignment trap.  I do not assign research papers in my SOC 101 courses, but instead assign several smaller writing assignments throughout the semester that involve responding to selected readings via reflective questions and application of theoretical perspectives – giving the student the opportunity to reflect on their own perspectives while also being required to demonstrate understanding of appropriate sociological theoretical perspectives as well. 

I admittedly cringe at the thought of assigning the students with a full-fledged research paper on a topic that they may or may not be even interested in.  This article discusses problems with research assignments and provides an interesting approach to re-structure the way research papers are assigned – by getting the student to become immersed in data collection themselves – instead of relying solely on secondary sources.  As I think about how to structure future honors sections of SOC 101, where the students would indeed be responsible for some sort of research project – this alternative to the old-school-style research paper could be useful.  It could potentially engage the students in the research process more by giving them the opportunities to not only learn about how research is done but to also be proud that they created and contributed something to a project.  It would provide them with a sense of ownership of their work as well.