Research is at the foundation of all work that goes on at a university. What’s more, it is a crucial part of the life-long learning educated people undertake when they encounter an important new subject or issue. This set of assignments is designed to help you (i) become an expert on a topic of your choice and (ii) develop an effective, specific argument about that topic. In the process, you will learn skills that will prove key in upper-level university classes and beyond.

You will begin by identifying and choosing a controversial issue related to your major field of study around which to focus your research. How will you discover such a topic? You might have come across points of interest in other classes you are currently taking. You might consider exploring some high-quality periodicals for general audiences (such as national newspapers or news magazines) for discussions of current debates that relate to your chosen field of study. Once you discover a debate or disagreement, then you can bet you’ve located a controversy.

Next, you will need to go to the library’s archive to ensure that sufficient published information exists for you to develop a well-informed research essay and argument. Your library homework assignment will require you to create a short list of sources related to your topic. There may be a number of sources out there, but try to determine which ones seem the most promising. Introductions to library resources, like our orientation session, help you to search out, refine that search, locate, and evaluate sources.

After I have approved your choice of topic and seen your preliminary list of sources, you will then write a paper proposal in class to try out your ideas. Following upon this in-class proposal, each of you will meet with me to discuss how your project is developing (i.e. perhaps you will need to narrow your focus even more). A sign-up sheet will be circulated at a later date.

The final research essay will be the culmination of all the work you have done over the course of the term in ENGL135. Thus, you should expect to bring foundational, analytical, rhetorical, stylistic, and research skills to bear on this project. You are very highly encouraged to use the resources at your disposal. For instance, speak with a UVic subject librarian or even a professor working in the field you’re investigating. Go to the C.A.C. for help. Of course, you should also discuss your project with me, especially during office hours.

                                                                SAMPLE SOLUTION

China has emerged as one of the strongest economies in the twenty-first century, coming second only to the United States, according to World Bank estimates (World Bank, 2016). The country’s Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is bigger than America’s and there is no indication that this position will change anytime soon. Europe, the world’s economic leader in the twentieth century, falls far behind the Asian giant. China’s military might rivals the world leaders such as the US and Russia and it is the world’s factory today where most of the manufacturing takes place (IMF, 2017). Its population estimate of 1.4 billion in 2016 makes it the largest single market on earth with 18.47% of the total human population (KPMG, 2016). This figure is way above European population of 738 million in the same period (2016). China’s economy grew at a staggering 6.7% in 2016 compared to Europe’s 1.5% in the subject year. These statistics emasculate the fact that for a long time, Europe was way ahead of the Asian tiger in economic growth and development. An in-depth analysis reveals that China’s historical socio economic culture had kept the nation at the periphery of world affairs and behind the European leaders of the time. This paper critically analyses reasons why Europe was stronger than China during the historical period between 1700 and 1860, through a comparison of political, economic and technological aspects in both countries.