University of Texas

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  • UT Libraries

Information Literacy Toolkit

  • Research Question Abstract
  • Welcome to the Toolkit
  • Assignment design rubric for research assignments
  • Information Literacy rubric

Annotated Bibliography

  • Avoiding Plagiarism Tutorial
  • Background Information and Class Expert
  • Citation managers and research organization skills
  • Comparing Sources
  • Developing a Research Question
  • Developing and Researching a Controversy
  • Digital Projects
  • Everything But the Paper
  • News and Media Literacy
  • Primary Source Literacy
  • How to Read a Scholarly Source (humanities)
  • How to Read a Scholarly Source (sciences/social sciences)
  • Research Log
  • Self-Guided Tour of PCL This link opens in a new window
  • Source Analysis/Evaluation
  • Using Scholarly Sources (Synthesizing Sources)
  • Why Use Sources Exercise
  • Write for Wikipedia
  • LAH 350: Treasure Hunt in Campus Archives: Discovering Islands of Order, Creating Original Humanities Research Projects
  • RHE 368C: Writing Center Internship
  • TC 302: Pathways to Civic Engagement
  • UGS 303: Jerusalem
  • UGS 303: Modern Day Slavery
  • UGS 302: Social Inequality and Education in Latin America
  • UGS 302: Tales of Troy
  • Guides for Students
  • Open Educational Resources (OERs) This link opens in a new window

Assignment Description

Prior to beginning a research paper or project, students are asked to write a short abstract that carefully considers their research question, their role as a researcher (synthesizer, reviewer, problem-solver, etc), the importance of their research question, and the information resources they will need to consult to answer that question. This assignment helps students move beyond researching a broad topic and towards narrowing the focus of their project to a research question. Adapted from an assignment in Professor Stephen Reese's UGS 302: Understanding 9/11.

Tips: When completed before a library instruction session, this exercise helps students arrive with well-defined information needs.It can also be developed into a research proposal assignment (perhaps as an alternative to writing a longer research paper) by asking students to provide an annotated bibliography.

Updated August 2017.

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  • Research Question Abstract - Google Drive link
  • Research Topic Rubric
  • Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024 7:44 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.utexas.edu/toolkit

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IMAGES

  1. How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper

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  2. What Is a Research Abstract? 3 Effective Examples

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  3. How to Craft an Abstract: A Step-by-Step Guide for Impactful Research

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  4. Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper

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  5. 🌱 How to write a good abstract for a research paper. How to Write a

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  6. How to Write a Dissertation Abstract in 2024

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