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Learning Outcomes
• Discover a meaningful research subject.
• Narrow your research subject.
• Create a researchable question.
• Write a preliminary thesis.
• Locate library and Internet sources.
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Learning Outcomes (contd.)
• Conduct primary research using a survey or
interview.
• Take notes from research materials.
• Create an outline.
• Compose a first draft of your research paper.
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Narrowing a Research
Subject (LO 13.2)
• Narrow a broad topic.
• Use the assignment’s requirements to help
narrow your topic.
• Consider the length of the assignment.
• Know the number and types of sources
required.
• Know the assignment deadline.
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Creating a Researchable
Question (LO 13.3)
• A researchable question serves as a guide
to the research process.
• An effective researchable question helps
develop a thesis.
• Determine what you know about your
subject.
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Write a Preliminary Thesis
Statement (LO 13-4)
• A researchable question cannot replace a
thesis statement.
• Draft a working thesis.
• Make sure your thesis includes both your
subject and your opinion.
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Write a Preliminary Thesis
Statement (contd.)
• A working thesis will help you select
sources.
• You may refine your thesis later as
you gather new ideas from your research.
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Library and Internet Sources
(LO 13-5)
Computerized Card Catalog
• You can determine if an item is available.
• Search by title, author, ISBN, or subject.
• Use key words to find what you need.
• Spell key words correctly.
• Try different key words until you find
what you need.
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Library and Internet Sources
(LO 13-5)
Computerized Card Catalog (contd.)
• Use “and,” “or,” or “not” to help
narrow a search.
• Print or jot down important information
about your sources.
• Use the catalog information to help locate
the source in the library.
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Library and Internet Sources:
The Stacks (LO 13-5)
• Locate your source using the call number printed on
the spine of the books.
• Determine how the library organizes its shelves:
– The Dewey Decimal System divides subjects into
ten categories.
– The Library of Congress Classification uses 20
lettered categories.
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Library and Internet Sources:
The Stacks (contd.)
• Look at the books nearby and determine
if they may be useful.
• If you can not locate a book or source,
ask the reference librarian for help.
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Library and Internet Sources:
Periodicals (LO 13-5)
• Periodicals include magazines, newspapers, and
journals.
• Magazines and newspapers often contain more general
information, while journals are usually more in-depth.
• Current periodicals are organized alphabetically by title.
• Old issues may be bound together and kept in
elsewhere.
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Library and Internet Sources:
Computerized Databases (LO 13-5)
• Check with your librarian to see if a specific
database is available for your use.
– Info Trac, ProQuest, LexisNexis, eLibrary, and
eGlobal Library are a few options.
• Read the abstracts of articles and database
results, and e-mail useful articles to yourself.
• Make sure to use the full article, not just the abstract.
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Library and Internet Sources:
Reference Materials (LO 13-5)
• Most reference materials cannot be checked out.
• Do not use reference materials as primary sources.
• Online reference materials are also available.
• Be aware that Wikipedia is not a credible
source for a research paper.
• Visit the American Library Association Web site
(http://www.ala.org).
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Library and Internet Sources:
Resources (LO 13-5)
Audiovisual materials are non-print media.
• Audiovisual materials can be useful sources.
• The shelves are usually organized
alphabetically and by type of material.
• Ask your librarian for help if you
are unable to find what you need.
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Library and Internet Sources:
Resources (contd.)
Internet searches
• Use as a supplement to your traditional sources.
• You can access sources using a Web browser.
• Search engines can help you find what
you need.
• Remember: Search engines are not sources.
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Library and Internet Sources:
Online Discussion Groups (LO 13.5)
• Use the Internet to locate discussion groups
in which to participate.
• Remember to check the accuracy of any
information gathered from these sources.
• Listserves act as mailing lists for your
subject, providing e-mail updates.
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Library and Internet Sources:
Online Discussion Groups (contd.)
• Newsgroups provide information, but you
must evaluate this information yourself.
• Blogs are personalized online journals.
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Tips for Conducting Online
Research (LO 13.5)
• Spell your search words correctly.
• Use Boolean Logic to make your search more
precise.
– Use “and” to look for sources that contain both
terms.
– Use “or” to look for any of two or more words.
– Use “not” to exclude one or more words.
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Tips for Conducting Online
Research (contd.)
• Click on hyperlinks to find more information
on other Web sites.
• Use the “back” and “forward” arrows to
navigate Web pages.
• Bookmark or print out useful sources.
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Evaluating Sources (LO 13.6)
Author and Publisher
• Verify that the author
has the appropriate
credentials.
• Make sure the publisher
and/or the Web site is
reputable.
Date
• Check to see when the
information was
published or posted.
• If the information is too
old, find more current
information.
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Evaluating Sources (contd.)
Bias
• Make sure the information provided is fair.
• Determine if the author could have an agenda.
Effectiveness
• Decide if the content is useful.
• Determine if it is organized clearly and logically.
• Check the information for accuracy.
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Taking Notes (LO 13.7)
Summarizing is condensing ideas from articles,
chapters, or passages, using your own words.
• Include main ideas but not specific details.
• After writing a summary, check your sources
for accuracy.
• Summarizing helps you manage large amounts of
information.
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Taking Notes (LO 13.7)
Paraphrasing is restating a sentence or passage
in your own words.
• Your goal is to revise the original
passage while keeping the passage’s ideas intact.
• Change the sentence structure and word choice.
• Paraphrasing is helpful when the original passage
is too complex or technical.
• Do not over-paraphrase in your paper.
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Taking Notes (contd.)
Quoting is taking someone’s exact words and
putting quotation marks around them.
• Quoting should be used sparingly.
• Use a quote to show an authority’s words
or to share vivid wording from the
original passage .
• Make sure to copy the statement word for word.
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Taking Notes (contd.)
Quoting (contd.)
• Use an ellipsis (...) when omitting words.
• Do not alter the author’s intended meaning.
• If the original passage contains an error,
use (sic) immediately after the error in the quote.
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Primary Research (LO 13.8)
Surveys are questionnaires used to gain
information from a group.
• Choose your participants carefully.
– Do you want to survey a random group
or a specific population?
• Set clear expectations for respondents.
• Design effective questions.
• Compile and interpret the results.
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Primary Research (contd.)
Personal Interviews
• Clarify your purpose.
• Choose your interviewee carefully.
• Determine how you will conduct the interview.
• Prepare your questions ahead of time.
• Be courteous to the interviewee.
• Record or take thorough notes during the
interview.
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Creating an Outline (LO 13.9)
• The outline is the framework of your
entire paper.
• Select and write down the major points
of your paper.
• Be flexible during the writing process if
all of your points aren’t covered in
the outline.
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Composing (LO 13.10)
• Write a first draft of your research paper.
• Consider your Rhetorical Star.
• Follow the steps of the writing process.
• Make sure your voice is strong within
your paper.
• You may need additional paragraphs to support
each point.
• Cite your sources.
