What This Document Is
This is a brainstorming and beginning research worksheet for Grand Canyon University’s University Success (UNV 104) course. It’s designed to help students prepare for their first expository essay assignment by guiding them through topic selection, initial idea generation, and preliminary research planning. It was created for students in Virginia Murray’s class on September 12, 2021.
Why This Document Matters
This worksheet is crucial for students starting the essay writing process. It provides a structured approach to move from a blank page to a focused research direction. Completing this worksheet is a required step before beginning the full expository essay.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document is a *pre-writing* tool, meaning it doesn’t contain the completed essay or in-depth research. It’s a starting point, not a finished product. It requires active participation and further investigation by the student.
What This Document Provides
The worksheet includes: a list of potential essay topics, prompts for free writing brainstorming, a guide to developing Boolean search terms for library research, and space to define potential sub-topics for the essay. A sample table demonstrating Boolean search term creation is also included. This preview does *not* include completed brainstorming examples beyond the provided sample, nor does it include access to the GCU library tutorial or the full course eBook.
