Learning about the topic: Dirty Research Task

Class
AE2313
Student
Merbin
Essay topic(s)

During the Academic English Programme you will write an

essay about the topic(s) above.
Before you start writing, you will spend most of the first week
researching this topic(s). You first task is to spend time trying
to learn a little background information about the topic(s) in
general.
Start by simply Googling the topic(s) and finding articles
intended for a general reader. Please do not try to read
academic sources such as journal articles and research at
this point. We will provide you with training on how to use
these sources later.
You may then use some of the following sources, and/or any
others you are familiar with:
• Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)
• You Tube (https://www.youtube.com/?
gl=GB&hl=en-GB)
• Wise Geek (https://www.wisegeek.com/)
• Encyclopaedia Britannica
(https://www.britannica.com/)
• BBC website (https://www.bbc.co.uk/)
• How Stuff Works
(https://www.howstuffworks.com/)
These ‘dirty’ sources are not academic, and you will not be
able to use them in your final essay, but they are a good,
simple starting point for an introduction to the topic(s).
You should make brief notes in your own words (do not copy)
and bring them to class where you will discuss what you have
learned.
In particular, you should try to make notes on some of the
following:
• Can you find any definitions of the topic(s)?
• Can you find any specific examples?
• What are the important theories? What do the
experts say?
• What are peoples’ general beliefs, opinions,
views, etc?
• What are the main discussions and debates
about this topic(s)?
• Is any key research summarised?
• Are there any connected ideas or problems?
• What synonyms/near synonyms did you find
for the key terms?