The Craft of Research is a book by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. Fitzgerald.[1] The work is published by the University of Chicago Press. The book aims to provide a basic overview of how to research, from the process of selecting a topic and gathering sources to the process of writing results. The book has become a standard text in college composition classes and is now in its fourth edition.

The Craft of Research
First edition
AuthorsWayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. Fitzgerald
LanguageEnglish
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press
Publication date
1995 (2nd ed. 2003, 3rd ed. 2008, 4th ed. 2016)
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint
Pages336
ISBN978-0226239736

The first edition of The Craft of Research was a winner of the 1995–1996 Critics' Choice Award.[2] Material from The Craft of Research has also been adapted to form the first part of Kate L. Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.

Structure

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Below is the structure of the work, as outlined in the fourth edition.

Preface: The Aims of This Edition

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Part 1: Research, Researchers, and Readers

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  • Thinking in Print: The Uses of Research, Public and Private
  • Connecting with Your Reader: Creating a Role for Yourself and Your Readers

Part 2: Asking Questions, Finding Answers

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  • From Topics to Questions
  • From Questions to Problems
  • From Problems to Sources
  • Engaging Sources

Part 3: Making an Argument

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  • Making Good Arguments: An Overview
  • Making Claims
  • Assembling Reasons and Evidence
  • Acknowledgments and Responses
  • Warrants

Part 4: Writing Your Argument

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  • Planning and Drafting
  • Organizing Your Argument
  • Incorporating Sources
  • Communicating Evidence Visually
  • Introductions and Conclusions
  • Revising Style: Telling Your Story Clearly

Part 5: Some Last Considerations

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  • The Ethics of Research
  • A Postscript for Teachers
  • Appendix: Bibliographical Resources

Editions

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Editions of The Craft of Research
Edition Year ISBN In Print?
First 1995 ISBN 978-0226065847 No
Second 2003 ISBN 978-0226065670 No
Third 2008 ISBN 978-0226065656 (Cloth)

ISBN 978-0226065663 (Paperback)

Yes
Fourth 2016 ISBN 978-0226239736 Yes

Translations

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Joseph Bizup and William T. Fitzgerald became contributing authors with the fourth edition.
  2. ^ Booth, Wayne C.; Booth, Wayne Clayson; Colomb, Gregory G.; Williams, Joseph M. (1995). Amazon.com Review: The Craft of Research (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) 1st Edition. ISBN 0226065847.
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