Inquiry Essay

The inquiry essay is designed to teach both the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic, as well as about the nature of search and discovery.  Unlike the conventional research paper in which the writer usually assumes a detached and objective stance, this essay allows you take an active role in your research by constructing a record of your path of inquiry.

Format:

The inquiry paper will be written in 5 sections. The sections are:

Introduction (1-2 pages)
Before conducting any formal research, write a section in which you explain to the reader what you think you know, what you assume, or what you imagine about your topic before you conducted your research. Discuss what you hope to find out about it through your inquiry, and predictions about what you will find during your research.

Research Process/Methods (1-2  pages)
This section should tell the story of your research. Write about your inquiry in a narrative or storytelling form, relating the story of what you did to research and what you learned in the process. Discuss what questions guided your research. Do not feel obligated to tell the reader everything, but highlight the information you uncovered that was crucial to your hunt and that contributed to your understanding of the information.

Results (1-2 pages)
In this section you will document the research you discovered on your own and how this research relates to your research questions. Think about the following when crafting this section:

What are the sources you were able to find?
What arguments do these sources make? What is the value of the source’s argument? What are its limitations?
How relevant were these sources to your research questions? How do they relate to and answer your research questions?

Implications and Additional Research (1-2 pages)
What are the implications/applications of this research? How might this information be used? What additional research might need to be conducted about this topic? What questions do you still have?  What else might you need to know that you were not able to learn through this inquiry?

Reflection (1-2 pages)
Now that you are finished researching and have found answers to your questions, reflect upon the discoveries you made and the questions that remain to be resolved.  Were you surprised by things you found out about your topic or yourself?  How might your research experience have changed you and your future?

Documentation (Works Cited):
Your final draft will incorporate research you conducted independently. The essay must include at least six sources total.

Category: Essays