Developing an objective stance

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>> As you write your research paper, move beyond your personal opinions and beliefs about the topic. While your perspective may be based on emotion, your goal is to develop an informed opinion based on logic, reason and facts. Test the fairness of your position by considering other viewpoints. In other words, use critical thinking. For example, you shouldn't make the claim college athletes are poor students without considering whether this statement is always true. Is this claim based on your limited personal experience or is it based on valid and reasoned research? Think critically about the topic. What circumstances contribute to a college athlete's poor academic performance? What specific conditions affect an athlete's grades? As you research your topic, you'll see that experts sometimes disagree. You have to sift through the conflicting evidence and decide where you stand. Then use the evidence you found most convincing to persuade your readers. Remember to keep an open mind. Don't try to tailor your research to what you wanted to prove before you began your investigation. The opinions you have at the start [music] might not be the same as those held by the experts.

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Consider these questions about your research. What ideas do your sources agree on? Where do they disagree? What other evidence can you find to round out the picture? To emphasize the fairness of your argument, be sure to credit your sources ideas using phrases like research by the author indicates or some researchers claim. Don't assume there are only 2 sides to a topic, right or wrong, fair or unfair. Consider all the evidence. Take into account the many different views when you explain your position.

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