ResearchGathering and analyzing information

Choosing a Topic

• Choose a general idea of interest and then focus on some part of it.

• Make sure you choose a subject in which you are interested in!

• Make a list of your ideas and then begin evaluating possible topics.

Evaluating Possible Topics

1. Is this topic interesting to me?

2. Is there enough information in readily available sources about this topic?

3. Is this topic of importance?4. Are there enough facts about

this topic so that it does not become repetitive?

Gathering Information

• Be sure to gather FACTS about your topic!

• Which is a fact and which is an opinion?– The elephant is the most

magnificent animal in Africa.– There are two types of

elephants that inhabit the continent of Africa.

Gathering Information

• You do not have to read every part of every source you find.

• Concentrate only on the parts of your sources that are related to your topic and your purpose.

Effective Note Taking

• Do not record material unrelated to your topic.

• Be accurate and double check facts after recording them.

• Record the source and source information from which your research came on the bottom or back of the index card.

Keeping Track of Your Sources• As you take notes, you

need to copy down your source information onto your index cards.

• You may write this on the back of the card or at the bottom after your facts.

Preparing Note Cards

• There are 2 types of basic notes.–A Direct Quotation–A Paraphrase

Direct Quotations

• Repeats the words of a source exactly.

• Quotation marks are used around the quoted material.

• Use when an idea is especially well stated in the source or when the exact wording is historically significant.

“The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster,” said Oscar Wilde.

Paraphrasing

• States an important fact or idea expressed in the source in your own words.

• This is what will be most used when completing note cards!

Oscar Wilde said that the actors were very good, but the people watching didn’t like it.

Next lesson:Avoiding Plagiarism and paraphrasing

Next Lesson:Citing sources and bibliography

Citing Sources

• Each time you use information from your note cards, you have a source that you MUST include in your bibliography (or works cited list).

• Do NOT include sources from which you did not use information!

How to Write A Bibliography

1. As you take notes, copy the source and all needed information about that source onto your note card.

2. Follow the guidelines for the type of source you have and correctly format your information

3. Place all sources into alphabetical order by author. If there is no author, alphabetize by title.

4. Title your page at the top and in the center with the word Bibliography.

5. Include the Bibliography as the very last page of your report.

For A Book:

1. Author (first and last name)

2. Title of Book3. City of Publication4. Publisher5. Date of Publication

(usually behind the copyright symbol ©)

For An Encyclopedia:

1. Encyclopedia Title2. Edition Date (year)3. Article Title4. Page Numbers

For the World Wide Web:1. URL (the www

address)2. Name of Author or

Editor3. Title of Material

Accessed4. Date of Material (if

available)