S10: How to Research

Misinformation and China

January 28, 2026

Key questions

  • Topic vs. question vs. problem: How are they similar / different? How do I find mine?
  • How to stress-test your question: What makes a good research question?
  • Where do I go from here?

RP Workshop

  • What makes a “good” response paper? What makes a good review?
  • Trouble-shooting your project: What are my dots? How to connect them?
  • How do I move forward? What should I do next?

How to Revise

  • Go back to the sources: Did I really get the document?
  • Think globally: What’s the empirical / theoretical puzzle here? So what?
  • Small stuff, encore: Introduction, transition, conclusion, citation

Common Issues

Declaring victory: “This source is biased”

  • Usually opinion-driven: “Polo likes to exaggerate.”
  • No source is perfect. Can it still be used to answer another question?

Mind the gap: Rhetoric vs. Reality

  • Deflating a myth: “Zheng He is not a peaceful emissary.”
  • After the demolition, now what?

Common Issues

Miss the forest for the trees

  • Summarizing, rather than questioning.
  • What do you think?

The 30000-Foot View vs. View from the ground up

  • Using to make a point of personal opinion
  • Approach it on its own terms
  • Zoom in and out: How does it compare with other texts / genres? What about other historical contexts?

Example 1

Despite Polo’s landmark travels to the Far East being considered factual for centuries, many in the modern era have begun to debate whether or not Polo went to China. Citing historical inaccuracies, his lack of appearance in Chinese records, and missing descriptions of several essential Chinese traditions in his book, they claim that Polo did not travel to China, and instead used information from Persian merchants whom he interacted with to write his book on China. However, it is not whether or not Marco Polo went to China that is significant. It is the fact that he was able to obtain information on China and distribute it to those in Europe in the first place that is so impactful.

Example 1, continued

As we navigate through Polo’s narrative, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential biases inherent in his perspective while recognizing the historical significance of his account in shaping European perceptions of the East. Ultimately, the enduring legacy of Marco Polo’s book lies not only in its captivating exploration of China but also in the layers of complexity it adds to our understanding of Kublai Khan Mongol Empire.

How I Will Grade Your Revision

  • Write a statement of what you changed
  • How your thinking evolved: Are you asking better questions – and providing better answers?
  • Presentation of your ideas: Is it sharper and clearer?

How to Review: Some tips

  • Provide revision-oriented comments, not editing-oriented
  • Focus on what they wrote, not what you wish they had written
  • Pick your battles: comment critically on the most important things, not all
  • Provide plenary commentary, not just feedback on individual points

Peer review: Exhibit 1

The broader context surrounding Covid-19 makes me wonder if the police were acting on their own, or rather following certain commands? Who is giving these commands and what larger interest is being served by hiding information about this particular virus? Does the authority’s use of power, and in cases like these, controlling media, to maintain public order and preventing spread of false information which may cause panic trump the right of the population to know the truth?

Peer review: Exhibit 2

While you have been discussing the words that have been written on the wall, you had a great discussion, but you could have also discussed the written words with giving examples; word examples can be discussed or could be ingrained within the discussion you have created. You could have talked more about how the audience comprehends the cartoon, and you can talk about different perspectives of audiences that are both Chinese who are living in the US already, and American people. You could have talked more about how the source has survived and why it survived, and this could have help the essay to demonstrate its strength in media.

Topic, question, problem

Topic:

  • Entities-driven: Event, person, organization, etc.
  • Descriptive, rather than analytical
  • Examples: Boxer Rebellion, political conspiracy, etc.

Question:

  • A sentence with a question mark at the end
  • Provides an answer – sometimes several – and raises more specific related questions
  • Should be open-ended and free of unproven assumptions: “How did X affect Y? To what degree?”
  • Should be clear about the subject. Avoid over-generalizations: “China”, “women”, etc.

Problem:

  • Not just a random set of questions, but an enduring puzzle
  • Usually transcends case studies and individual contexts
  • Problems should drive your research questions and generate new ones

Workshop Your Ideas!

Step 1: Answer these questions:

  • Project topic
  • What the project does
  • What the project does not do
  • Why doing this intellectual work matters
  • The main question the project asks is
  • Methodology and evidence base
  • Overall, the project’s main idea, claim, or intervention

Step 2: Talk to your neighbor:

  • Does the proposal communicate these points?
  • Do you have any questions and/or suggestions?

Just the Facts, Please

  • Not questions about cause and effects, meaning and (in)significance.
  • Simple, fact-based questions

Just the Facts: Shi Jianqiao (1905-1974)

Portrait photograph of Shi Jianqiao (1905-1974) as a young woman.
  • Who is Shi? How did her father die?
  • Who is warlord who killed Shi’s father? What did he do? What was their conflict about?
  • Where did the assassination take place? How was it planned and executed?
  • What kind of education did Shi receive? Did she read any feminist literature?

Just the Facts: Shi Jianqiao (1905-1974), continued

Portrait photograph of Shi Jianqiao (1905-1974) as a young woman.
  • What are examples of female knight errant in Chinese literature?
  • What is filial piety? What is expected of a filial daughter?
  • What plays were created after the assassination? Who wrote / played them?
  • Where were these plays shown? Who saw them?
  • How expensive were the tickets? Who could afford to go?
  • What other scandals were on the public’s mind? What else was showing in theater / cinema?

Just the Facts: Your turn

Ask yourself:

  • What facts do you want to know?
  • Where can you find data or information about your questions?
  • Specifically, which keywords will you use for your searches?
  • What details about your topic might exist? What might not be available?
  • How can you access the data, taking into consideration your language abilities, time constraints, etc.?

Tell the class:

  • What is the top fact-based question you have right now?
  • How does it relate to your project?
  • How will you answer it?

Assignment

  • Write your research proposal: narrative section and bibliography (with primary sources)
  • Consider keeping a research journal to
    • Track your search queries:
    • Reflect on your experience: What is working? What is not working?
    • Record your impressions: Puzzled? Curious? Bored?
    • and more