College Research Writing
What the course is, who it is for, the research process step by step, and how OpenEssayMe helps you practice it.
- 9modules, from Intro to Research to the research paper
- 15weeks, as a suggested pace
- 2citation styles to choose from: APA 7 or MLA 9
What the course is
College Research Writing teaches you to ask a good question, find and judge sources, use them honestly and write a research paper.
It has nine modules over a suggested 15 weeks, starting with Intro to Research. You choose APA 7 or MLA 9 for your citations.
It follows two guides for first-year college writing and research: the WPA's statement for first-year composition[1] and the ACRL's framework for information literacy.[2]
Who it is for
- First-year college students.
- GED graduates moving on to college.
No research experience is needed. Take it on your own, or with a class when your teacher assigns it.
The research process, step by step
Choose a topic
Start with something you want to know more about.
Ask a question
Narrow the topic to a focused question that cannot be answered with yes or no.
Search
Plan your keywords, then search library databases and Google Scholar. Adjust as you go.
Evaluate sources
Check who made each source, why, how recent it is and what evidence it gives.
Read and take notes
Read closely and note what each source says, accurately and in your own words.
Build an argument
Turn what you found into a clear thesis, with claims, evidence and a counterargument.
Draft
Put your sources in conversation with each other and with your own view.
Revise
Use feedback to turn a first draft into a strong paper, one step at a time.
Cite
Give credit to every source in APA 7 or MLA 9, in the text and in the list at the end.
Research is a cycle: you ask, search, read and ask again. Writers move back and forth between these steps.
What you practice, and how we help
Nine modules, one step at a time
Each module takes you from learning to practice to an assignment, from Intro to Research to the final research paper.
Practice that does the work
Sort sources, build citations, write database searches and short answers, with feedback on every answer.
My Sources
Keep your sources in one list. The app checks each one and labels it Verified, Mismatch or Not found.
Feedback on your writing
Each assignment gets feedback on the rubric, with a suggested score. In a class, your teacher confirms the grade.
Honest sources
Feedback comments on your writing and your own sources. It never adds a source you did not give.
A certificate at the end
Finish all nine modules and your certificate is ready to print.
Sources
Ask the guide
The guide answers questions about OpenEssayMe and its exams, from our own pages.