For my research paper, my overall topic was about coeducation vs. single-sex education. As I was finding sources that I could use in my paper, I started to see the areas that have already been discussed (or in other words, the “territories”). In terms of my research, I was more concerned with the “gaps,” or the holes in the conversation. By establishing the territories and gaps in my research, I’m able to find a place where I can “enter the conversation.”
Territories
Source: Giphy
In general, scholars and professors were discussing the pros and cons of a coed or single-sex education, depending on their stance. Based on the sources I found, this was territory I was stepping into:
Single-Sex:
- Removes distractions caused by the opposite gender
- Increases retention and participation rates of their students
- Provides students with great opportunities
Coed:
- Collaboration with males and females
- Creates same opportunities for both genders
- Compares the treatment of males and females side by side, (limits discrimination)
Gaps
Now that I had a feel for the territories regarding my topic, it was time for me to find the gaps and enter the conversation. I discovered that with many of the sources I found, they seemed to only talk about the immediate benefits of their chosen school system. I thought that it was interesting how none of the sources considered the long-term effects of a student’s education and the impact it could have on them in society.
*cue me entering the conversation*
For my research paper, I’m arguing that coeducation is better than single-sex education, not only for the immediate benefits, but for outside factors and skills that the students will need to succeed in the future. I plan on talking about how coeducation helps students academically and socially as well as working with the opposite gender and facing inequalities in society.