Process

The I-search paper is designed to teach students something
valuable about a chosen topic and about the nature of searching
and discovery. As opposed to the standard research paper in
which a writer assumes a detached and objective view,
the I-search paper allows them to take an active role in their
search; to hunt for facts and truths firsthand and to provide a
step by step record of the discovery process.

Student Learning Outcomes

	Access, analyze and evaluate information through a variety of media (primary, electronic, and traditional)
	Distinguish between fact and opinion
	Learn MLA format, one of the accepted forms of documenting research
	Develop a natural writing voice
	Write a nonfiction narrative which “shows” not “tells”
	Establish a coherent thesis statement
	Use precise language and active rather than passive voice
	Support a thesis with direct and indirect quotations, giving credit for both using proper citations
	Reflect on the learning process

Organization

The I-search paper is organized into four separate parts, but
reads as one flowing narrative:

	Why I need to write this paper
	What I know, assume, or have heard about my topic
	The story of my search and hunt for information
	What I discovered in the end