Lesson 35 — Activity 2: Research With a Purpose
Completion requirements
Lesson 35 — Activity 2: Research with a
Purpose
When you are researching a topic, you have a purpose. That is, you have a reason to be looking for information.
You might be using your research to tell people more about a topic. You might be trying to persuade people to think a certain way about a topic. You might want to learn more about a topic yourself so you can decide how you feel about the issue.
You might be using your research to tell people more about a topic. You might be trying to persuade people to think a certain way about a topic. You might want to learn more about a topic yourself so you can decide how you feel about the issue.
Depending on your purpose, you might look for new information about the topic.
- If you want to inform your audience about the topic, you will want to find out as much as possible about it. You will need to get a lot of facts about the topic so you can choose the most interesting and useful information to share with your readers.
- If you want to persuade people to think a certain way about your topic, you will want to present information that supports your position strongly on the topic.
- If you want to make up your own mind about a topic, you will look for information that presents both the positive and negative aspects so you can compare the good and the bad and then make an informed decision.
To do research effectively, you must understand the difference between
facts and opinions.
You might use opinions to try to influence the reader of your research report to think a certain way, but you need to be careful that you have the facts to support those opinions. An unsupported opinion is not worth much!
When you are doing research, you also need to be aware that the information you are getting may be influenced by the opinions of the source! Various people have various points of view, and those points of view may be reflected in their writing.
Sometimes your point of view may prevent you from stating the facts fairly.
You might use opinions to try to influence the reader of your research report to think a certain way, but you need to be careful that you have the facts to support those opinions. An unsupported opinion is not worth much!
You are expressing an opinion
when you make a statement of your feelings or attitudes. You are
expressing a fact if you have proof that what you are saying is true.
When you are doing research, you also need to be aware that the information you are getting may be influenced by the opinions of the source! Various people have various points of view, and those points of view may be reflected in their writing.
Sometimes your point of view may prevent you from stating the facts fairly.
- If you have a bias, or favour one side of an issue, you may present a more positive impression of the side you favour.
- If you have a prejudice, or an unfair point of view that is not based on facts, you may present one side of the issue without considering the other side fairly.