LibGuides: Creating Effective Research Assignments: A Guide for Faculty: Viewpoints in the Literature

Differing Viewpoints: Common Problems

3 (best)	2	1	0 (worst)
Student engages with differing viewpoints in the literature	Student acknowledges differing viewpoints in the literature	Student briefly mentions differing viewpoints in the literature	Student presents only one viewpoint from the literature

Have an introductory assignment or activity that requires students to find valid sources that disagree with one another.
- This activity would work with topics chosen by the students or those assigned by an instructor, and would help students to incorporate multiple viewpoints into their research.

Have students write a brief “opposition paper” summarizing the opposing viewpoint.
- Writing a paper that outlines the argument of the other side helps students to develop a more thorough understanding of the subject and of the multiple perspectives present in the field of study.

Ask students to complete a literature review chart or concept map.
- Tools like literature review charts and concept maps allow students to find common themes among a variety of sources, but also to see the differences in perspectives and conclusions among those sources as well. Activities like this also allow students to understand the concept of scholarly conversation. You can find examples of literature review charts and concept maps on the "Getting Started" page of our Literature Reviews guide.

Require students to complete an annotated bibliography before the final draft is due.
- Annotated bibliographies allow students to describe not only the various types of information sources they are using, but also to compare and contrast those sources and understand how they relate to each other and the topic as a whole. You can find helpful information about annotated bibliographies at the following links:
Have an introductory assignment or activity that requires students to find an article on a chosen topic, then find an article that either cites that first article, or is cited by that first article.
- Students would then be required to summarize the two articles and describe their relationship to one another in that topical area. This activity would help students to see different perspectives on the same or similar topics, and to understand the concept of scholarship as a conversation.