The Research Process

Josefino Rivera, Jr.Literature and Personal

ChoiceSenior Thesis9 March 2009

Agenda

Pair Share Research QuestionsSources of InformationHow to ResearchHow to Take Notes

Sources of Information

LibraryInternet (tomorrow)

Library: Five important places to start1. Librarian2. General Reference Works

EncyclopediaSpecialized encyclopedias

3. Library CatalogueAuthorTitleSubject (Interdisciplinary arc)Keyword (important words that will come up often)

Library: Five important places to start4. Databases

Gale’s Student Resource CentereLibrarySIRS (Social Issues Research Series)The Worldbook EncyclopediaEBSCOIssues and Controversies

5. Specialized BibliographiesAnthologies

Library: Important DatesThursday, March 12

MVHS Library with subDUE: 5 print sources and notes

Friday, March 13MVHS Library computer lab with subDUE: 5 online sources and notes

Saturday, March 21SJSU Library Fieldtrip 10-1 (opt)Must get library card first if under 18

Saturday, March 28*SF Public Library

Sources

ApprovedEncyclopedia (week 1)College-level booksPeer-reviewed research (attractiveness factor, submissions column, and peers in the same field doing research)

RejectedEncyclopedia (after week 1)Popular readingMagazines

Total SourcesBibliography (Snapshot of research whether you use it or not. Temporary document--place holder that disappears after you start typing your paper): 24Note Set #1=6, #2=12, #3=18, #4=24

Annotated Bibliography (Citation of research that also reflects use: strengths, weaknesses, how you think you will use it in your paper): 12 @ ~3/4 page eachWorks Cited (Only references that are paraphrased or cited in paper): 6-8

Skimming a Text

All researchers skim: not intellectually lazy.

Table of Contents: find chapters related to what you needIndex: look up key wordsIntro/Abstract: summary of all of textChapters:

IntroductionTopic sentencesIf still of use, then read entire chapter

Note-TakingBibliography is a road map: assumption there is a community of people communicating with each otherResearch Question and Focus QuestionFull MLA styleQuote (page #), summarize (chapter heading and title), paraphrase (chapter heading or title), or note important information (clearly differentiate)Respond to the information by noting observations, stating reaction, arguing opinions, making connections, or asking questions

A Note on Plagiarism

Plagiarism is plagiarism even if it isn’t intendedBe very clear which are your words and which come from researchResearch is about using others’ ideas and information to advance new information

Note-Taking Reflection

What specific question did today’s research answer?How will incorporate this research into my larger research question?Based on my research today, I will answer this research question next because:Problems I ran into and strategies I tried to solve problems:

Homework

Read The Craft of Research, chapter 6 (pages 90-105)1. Typed2. MLA Format3. Q, P, S, N4. Observation, reaction, opinion, connection, opinion5. Reflection

Exit Card

3 New things I learned today

2 Potential research questions

1 Question or concern I still have