Researchwhat’s it good for?

Engl 3365

What is research good for?

Demonstrates professionalism Remember that proposals sell an idea Research shows that you know something about the topic,

issue, and solution you’re describing Research shows the level of work you’ve put into your idea

Supports arguments Remember that convincing ideas sell best Research provides evidence to support your ideas Research shows what other people think about the topic,

issue, and solution you’re describing

Aids further investigation Research shows where readers can get more information on

the topic, issue, or solution you’re describing

Types of Research

Can define based on where the info came from

PRIMARY research: the information would not exist if you hadn’t collected it

surveys, interviews, photographs, original diagrams

SECONDARY research: the information has been collected or reported by someone else

articles, reports, pre-existing diagrams and photos

What research is important for you?

FunctionBackground research: shows the size, scope, or other

important general features of your problem/issue

Descriptive research: describes important features of the solution or course of action you suggest

Feasibility research: shows or suggests that the course of action you suggest is realistic, beneficial, etc

SourceNewspapers and Magazines: great for background info

Organizations: great for solution ideas & descriptive info

Reports: great for feasibility info

Primary Research

Types/Sources Interviews (including talks with the client) Emails (including client emails) Phone Conversations (a type of interview) Surveys Pictures

TALK TO ME FIRST if you plan to do any kind of primary research for your report

besides talking to the client

Secondary Researchresources

TTU Library1. Simply ask a librarian for help

2. Use on-line databases and advice

Local and National newspapers3. National news – TTU library Nexis-Lexis search portal

4. Local news – Avalanche-Journal

5. Campus news – Daily Toreador

Document your sources

As you’re doing research, use the “can you find it again?” rule of thumb

Write down or save all the information you’d need to find the article, report, or website from scratch

This includes things like publication name, title, author, date, URL, et cetera

A word on proper use

If a fact, observation, or opinion is not your own, then you must cite where it came from

If you include words that are not your own, then you must cite the source and clearly show that it is a quote

If you include a mix of your words and someone else’s, then you must cite the source and clearly show that it is a paraphrase

Review the policy presented in the course syllabus. Talk to me if you are at all unclear on this.