Question

To write a successful research essay, follow the steps below. Select an author from a short story you have already read. Formulate a general research question based on what you know about the author. Refine your question so that it is specific and focuses on the author’s style. Start researching relevant information to your topic. Use autobiographical or biographical texts about the author as well as critical texts, or texts that discuss the author’s works. Synthesize information as you research. Write the essay, using at least three references to the short story itself and three references to other sources. Remember to use proper in-text citations for both paraphrases and direct quotations from your sources. Provide a works-cited list at the end of the essay.

Which step involves refining the research question to focus on the author's style?

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

Answer 1

Step 2 of the research essay writing process involves refining the research question to focus on the author's style. This step is crucial for guiding the essay's direction and ensuring a specific and analytical approach to the author's work.

Step-by-step explanation:

The step in the research essay writing process that involves refining the research question to focus on the author's style is Step 2. After selecting an author from a short story you have read (Step 1), Step 2 is where you formulate a general research question based on what you know about the author's style. This is where you narrow down your research inquiry to something specific, which will guide your research and essay writing. Next, you'll start gathering relevant information and synthesize the information from multiple sources into your essay, analyzing and evaluating your findings to support your argument.

In a research essay, it is critical to utilize sources effectively to support, contradict, or expand your original ideas while maintaining a writerly voice. Accurate in-text citations and a thorough works-cited list are essential to attribute direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries properly, thereby avoiding plagiarism and strengthening the credibility of your essay.

Analyzing a text includes considering various literary elements such as character, plot, theme, and historical context, alongside the author's stylistic choices like tone, diction, and figurative language. Your thesis statement will revolve around these analyses and guide the structure of your essay, ensuring a focused and clear argument is presented.