Throughout these Research Mini-Projects, you have gathered and examined resources. Now you will discern how sources connect and speak to one another. The Research Matrix is a visual organizer that will help you (1) explore the main ideas your sources are discussing and (2) prepare to synthesize these sources in your Literature Review. You will explain the arguments that people are already making succinctly, clearly, and without adding your own opinion. You will identify the points of intersection–places where some arguments overlap or come together and work with each other. You will also identify the points of divergence–places where some arguments disagree or push and work against each other. In short, you will visually map the conversation.
Skills: reading critically, identifying where authors converge and diverge, developing main ideas to focus on for Literature Review and Position Paper
You will need to choose at least 6 sources to analyze for the research matrix. They can be sources you found in the last two research mini-projects, but you may need to find some new sources, too, as your research question evolves.
You will turn in 1) a filled-out Research Matrix worksheet and 2) a short reflection.
