Newton Campbell

English 111.1

Lecturer Eric Meljac

December 1, 2004

Research Paper Reflection

Having completed this project, I have learned how to better argue a point in a paper.

Using facts and examples, my arguments become that much better. A reader takes my arguments

more seriously when I have facts to back them up, especially facts researched from credible

sources. Getting all these facts from different perspectives helped to form my own points. When

I use these facts, the paper itself changes completely. It no longer seems like it is just some

college kid writing. They were still my arguments. But they were backed by well-known,

credible sources.

My researching skills also improved a great deal during this project. In previous research

papers, I stuck to using a few main sources to quote or get information from. But now that I use a

larger variety of sources, I can better understand the topic that I am arguing about. Understanding

more about the topic helps me to make a better argument. In addition, using this large variety of

sources also allows me to get information about my argument from many different perspectives.

With these different perspectives, I can create a conclusive argument that sets the tone for the

entire paper. This conclusive argument was not only stated in my conclusion. It also helped me to

rewrite my thesis statement and entire introduction. It also made the argument apparent

throughout the entire paper.

Before doing the actual research, I only had an idea about what I was going to be arguing.

I did not have a solid, conclusive argument. During my time researching, I was able to develop
this topic. To be honest, I only started the paper with one solid point to back up my argument. All

the statistics and Congressional meetings about this was what led me to my other points. Many

of the viewpoints of other authors helped also. These authors gave me an opportunity to let the

statistics and arguments swirl around in my head so that I could develop my own viewpoints on

them. It was then that I started looking up points from credible sources that supported my own.

This project, along with all the other papers in this class, will help me with other papers

that I write in all of my other classes. Using these new techniques of research and arguing, my

papers will seem clearer and my arguments will seem more apparent. It does not only help me

with papers, but in other arguments and debates. Writing this paper along with the others has

allowed me to get a better sense of how to produce an effective argument. I have gotten a lot

better at proving my points as opposed to just stating them. This will be beneficial in future

classes such as US Politics and CO 101. I will be able to give good examples and create a better

argument.

This paper, in my opinion, was one of my best research papers. The grade that I get on it

might not show it, but what I learned from it will. In all my other research papers, I spent about

one day doing actual research. I used that formulaic approach to writing them and, in turn,

learned nothing about argument from them. The topic alone made this paper. My past papers

merely discussed the history of some broad subject. This topic forced me to do far more research

and, most importantly, made me think about the facts that I researched. It helped me to apply the

thing that I was researching. This way, I would learn more about the topic. Knowing more about

the topic made the paper far easier. It helped me to develop more points and come to a good

conclusion.