Literacies: Where do your ideas about reading and writing come from

For this assignment you will write a research report that is at least 2000 words. The objective in developing this inquiry-based research project is *not*, perhaps, like other research essays with which you may be familiar. In an inquiry-based research report, the development of a research question is the cornerstone of the project, providing a guideline for you to follow your research wherever the information takes you. You are investigating and possibly raising additional questions rather than providing a definitive answer or arguing for one side or another. Therefore, the careful formulation of a solid research question about your topic is crucial to ensure your inquiry will be effective.

Once your research question is finalized, you will conduct extensive inquiry into the potential implications and significance of your research question. You will seek connections between the information you discover during your research and the potential significance to your topic, identified audiences, and further inquiry. Your thorough research of multiple sources, and full analysis of your findings, will be the foundation from which you develop your report. Your sources should be used as evidence to support, contradict, or expand on your ideas, and your report must include extensive analysis around the question you explore.

The following types of research must be incorporated into your report:

Field notes about an observation that you conduct
An interview conducted by you with a subject relevant to your research
At least 7 secondary sources, 4 of which must be academic sources
You’ll develop your own research question to inquire into something of interest to you from the possible topics.
You’ll start by doing scholarly secondary research on what has already been written on this topic to help you figure out what you should focus on for your primary research.
You’ll probe the topic yourself through field research–observations, interviews, surveys, etc. See the prompt for requirements. This is the primary research.
You’ll continue to do scholarly secondary research throughout the project as you refine your understanding of the topic.
Finally, you’ll combine your primary research with the scholarly research you conduct to make inquiries into the topic you choose.