ENG114 - Moore

By definition, scope is the boundaries in which you will be researching. In other words, it determines which areas of research you choose to focus on and what you will leave out. 

Defining a scope of research is important because it: 

• Creates focus
• Guides your research design
• Increases time effectiveness
• Sets audience expectations
• Opens possibilities to future research

When it comes to working on a class assignment, it is also important to take note of the requirements regarding the length of your paper. Choosing a paper that is either too narrow or too broad can greatly impact your paper. 

EXAMPLE: 

"In this assignment, you will write a research-based essay that explores a topic of interest related to our course themes. Your goal is to develop a clear, arguable thesis and support it with credible sources. This paper should demonstrate your ability to:

• Ask meaningful questions
• Conduct academic research
• Evaluate and synthesize sources
• Develop a coherent argument
• Write with clarity, structure, and purpose"

TOO BROAD: How does AI negatively impact students?

TOO NARROW: How does generative AI negatively impact college students attending Professor Moore's ENG114 class?

BALANCED: How does generative AI negatively impact learning retention in college freshmen?

Relevance refers to finding information that is appropriate to your information needs. When writing a paper that has been assigned to you, it is essential to understand what you are being asked to do. If you have read an assignment description and feel that you still do not understand the requirements, ask your professor to clarify before proceeding further. This is extremely important as to avoid both wasting your time and receiving a bad grade due to a misunderstanding. 

Additionally, relevance will factor into your research process when it comes time to find sources. Before even picking the sources you will use, look at background information about a potential topic. This will not only provide you with context, but also let you determine if you are meeting the criteria laid out.

EXAMPLE: 

Research essay for an American History course

• Relevant: A research paper on the impacts of factory regulation in the 20th century
• Not Relevant: A persuasive essay on why college should be tutition-free

While it is important to follow the requirements set out by your professor, it is also valuable to choose a topic that interests you. This helps to avoid burnout and ensure that you are writing a paper that you can focus on for an extensive period of time. When an author is not invested in their work, it can also reflect poorly on the audience.

For this assignment, you have been encouraged to select a topic that is relevant to your major.

At Lehman Library, we have Subject Guides for each of the major/minor degrees at the university. These will direct you to databases specific to your major. Additionally, we have Topic Guides, which offer resources on particular themes within a broader area of study

• Subject Guides 
• Topic Guides

EXAMPLE: 

"How has the role of colonization impacted Native American groups in Pennsylvania throughout history?"

• Topic Guide on Indigenous Voices 
  • Settler Colonial Studies

    Settler Colonial Studies seeks to address the theoretical and practical aspects and implications of settler colonialism in the past and in the present. The journal was established to respond to a growing demand for reflection and critical scholarship on settler colonialism as a distinct social and historical formation. It is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary by nature, encouraging submissions from multiple different academic disciplines, including, but not limited to, history, literature, Indigenous studies, area- and cultural studies, archaeology, anthropology, environmental humanities, genocide studies, and memory studies.

  • The Indigenous Peoples' Journal of Law, Culture, and Resistance

    The Indigenous Peoples' Journal of Law, Culture & Resistance has its origins in a conversation among students, like-minded in our aspiration to create a more humane space within the legal world we are all immersed in as law students. That first conversation was partially about imagining a space where Indigenous people(s) and those committed to Indigenous rights could articulate legal claims, critique legal systems, and speak on legal issues relevant to their communities.