Doing ResearchDoing Research

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Not Just a TraditionNot Just a Tradition

Teaches you how to manage Teaches you how to manage longer pieces of writinglonger pieces of writing

Teaches you how to use the libraryTeaches you how to use the library Makes you an expert on your Makes you an expert on your

subjectsubject Prepares you for success in other Prepares you for success in other

coursescourses

Choosing Your SubjectChoosing Your Subject

Unfamiliar & interestingUnfamiliar & interesting Sparks curiosity Sparks curiosity You must You must remainremain open-minded open-minded Avoid subjects that require Avoid subjects that require

technical knowledgetechnical knowledge Use free associationUse free association

Why have a thesis Why have a thesis statement?statement?

1)1) Investigate to find factsInvestigate to find facts

2)2) Interpret those factsInterpret those facts

3)3) Persuade the reader that your Persuade the reader that your opinion/interpretation is correctopinion/interpretation is correct

4)4) Don’t just state the facts—use Don’t just state the facts—use them to support your opinionthem to support your opinion

Developing Your Developing Your ThesisThesis Keep purpose and audience in Keep purpose and audience in

mind when researchingmind when researching Easy to forget the pointEasy to forget the point Researching may cause you to Researching may cause you to

change/modify your original thesischange/modify your original thesis Preserve your opinion—don’t let it Preserve your opinion—don’t let it

vanishvanish

Preliminary ReadingPreliminary Reading

““Reading around”Reading around” Verify that your subject is Verify that your subject is stillstill

interestinginteresting Begin with an encyclopediaBegin with an encyclopedia Initiate reference/note-takingInitiate reference/note-taking Refrain from using the Internet—Refrain from using the Internet—

begin with reliable/trustworthy begin with reliable/trustworthy resourcesresources

Research on the Research on the InternetInternet ““Yahoo” and “Google”Yahoo” and “Google” Don’t assume that all info on the Don’t assume that all info on the

internet is reliable—.gov, .org, etc. internet is reliable—.gov, .org, etc. Look carefully at the author or Look carefully at the author or

sponsor of the website sponsor of the website Use preliminary info to “snuff out” Use preliminary info to “snuff out”

bad websitesbad websites

Research on the Research on the InternetInternet Determine purpose and audience Determine purpose and audience

of websiteof website Look for datesLook for dates Look for sources of infoLook for sources of info Check for appropriate breadthCheck for appropriate breadth Ensure that website has adequate Ensure that website has adequate

evidence to support its findingsevidence to support its findings

Your Preliminary Your Preliminary OutlineOutline Preliminary outline = scratch Preliminary outline = scratch

outlineoutline Indicates major divisions of Indicates major divisions of

paperpaper Not elaborateNot elaborate

A Working A Working BibliographyBibliography Works cited—an alphabetical listing of Works cited—an alphabetical listing of

the books, articles, and other sourcesthe books, articles, and other sources Working bibliography—promising Working bibliography—promising

resources from early stages of resources from early stages of researchresearch

Use index cards to record authors’ Use index cards to record authors’ names, titles, and publication datanames, titles, and publication data

Final list includes only sources used in Final list includes only sources used in paperpaper

Making Bibliography Making Bibliography CardsCards Make a card for any resource Make a card for any resource

that may be helpfulthat may be helpful Make notes also in order to Make notes also in order to

remember the sourceremember the source

Taking NotesTaking Notes

Note cards provide a space for Note cards provide a space for evidence and supporting detailsevidence and supporting details

You’ll organize paper according to You’ll organize paper according to necessity of notes, not by booknecessity of notes, not by book

One note per cardOne note per card

Taking Notes: Content Taking Notes: Content

Look for facts, ideas, or Look for facts, ideas, or opinions opinions

Take more than you needTake more than you needWeed out your notes after you’ve Weed out your notes after you’ve

finished researchingfinished researchingMay take notes as soon as you start May take notes as soon as you start

researchingresearching

Preparing Note CardsPreparing Note Cards

Every note should contain two Every note should contain two kinds of info:kinds of info:

1)1) The fact, idea, or opinionThe fact, idea, or opinion

2)2) The exact source of the infoThe exact source of the info Avoid Avoid plagiarismplagiarism—using —using

someone else’s words and/or someone else’s words and/or ideas without acknowledging ideas without acknowledging their sourcetheir source

Quotation of SourcesQuotation of Sources

When quoting a source, When quoting a source, use the exact wording use the exact wording (even errors) from that (even errors) from that sourcesource

Must use quotation marksMust use quotation marks

Quotation of SourcesQuotation of Sources

Use brackets [ ] when clarifying a Use brackets [ ] when clarifying a notenoteInstead of “He…”Instead of “He…”Use “[Name]…” Use “[Name]…”

If you leave out words/sentences, use If you leave out words/sentences, use ellipses (...), but do not use them to—ellipses (...), but do not use them to—Alter the meaning of the sentenceAlter the meaning of the sentenceOmit important elements like subjects or Omit important elements like subjects or

verbsverbs

Summary and Summary and Paraphrase of SourcesParaphrase of Sources Quote sparinglyQuote sparingly Instead use Instead use

the the summarysummary method—a short method—a short restatement of the original source in restatement of the original source in your own words your own words

OR the OR the paraphraseparaphrase method—more method—more expanded summary, often contains expanded summary, often contains words taken from the original words taken from the original

Disagreements: Fact Disagreements: Fact and Opinionsand Opinions Be careful to distinguish between Be careful to distinguish between

a writer’s statement of fact and a writer’s statement of fact and expression of opinionexpression of opinion

Use encyclopedias or standard Use encyclopedias or standard sources to do background checkssources to do background checks

OR acknowledge difference of OR acknowledge difference of opinions in paperopinions in paper

OutliningOutlining

Arrange notes in piles according Arrange notes in piles according to headingsto headings

Write a Write a slugslug—a brief heading that —a brief heading that indicates the content of each noteindicates the content of each note

Planning on proving a thesis—Planning on proving a thesis—best to use sentence outlinebest to use sentence outline