Skip to Main Content

Research Skills

Review the Assignment

To better understand your assignment, the Decipher Your Research Assignment video, created by Sonoma State University Library, recommends reviewing your assignment prompt to answer these questions:

  1. What type of research assignment is it?
  2. How many pages are required?
  3. What are the source requirements?
  4. Are topic suggestions supplied by your instructor?

Types of Assignments for WRI Courses

Sample assignments would be different kinds of essays, which are typically 3-5 pages:

  • personal essay
  • informative essay
  • reflective essay
  • argumentative essay

Typical assignments would be major essays such as:

  • response argument essay
  • rhetorical analysis essay
  • dialogue and debate essay
  • self-reflective essay
  • research based essay

With a focus on reading works of literature, assignments for this course may include:

  • writings/answers to thought questions
  • longer form writing on different genres (short story, poetry, drama and essay)
  • formal essay

Sample assignments include major essays such as:

  • response argument essay
  • research based argument essay
  • annotated bibliography
  • Typical assignments include writing a research paper, but with a focus on the humanities.
  • annotated bibliography

Annotated Bibliographies

From the Indiana University School of Dentistry Library | "Annotated Bibliographies (IUSD)"