1. A Recipe for Good Research

2. Key Ingredient: Strong Argument Strong arguments advance and support one point of view while acknowledging the legitimacy of the other side’s argument and their support for it. Argument

3. Key Ingredient: Thesis A thesis is not a fact. A thesis is an opinion A good thesis is arguable and controversial Good research uses facts, opinions, and logic –for support –for rebutting the other side’s argument http://www.godloveseveryone.org/elephant/

4. Key Ingredient: Question & Answer Your thesis is a response to a question about your opinion. Example: –Do you think Alexander deserves the title “Great?”

5. Research Process Inventory Locate sources Evaluate sources Document sources Distinguish facts from opinions –Extract and categorize facts For or against? –Evaluate and categorize opinions Extract and categorize evidence For or against? Synthesize & Hypothesize –Preliminary Thesis Your 1 st Draft Reflect & Re-consider –Thesis Your Final Report Starts Broad, then Narrows through Research, Writing & Revision Beginning End

6. Inventory What do I know? –Start by taking stock of what you already know –Categorize what you know in T-chart form + -

7. Identifying Sources Types of Sources –Primary & secondary sources –Books, Journals & Magazines –Images & other media –Personal Interviews –Etc. Locations for Sources –Libraries –Internet –Etc.

8. Evaluating Sources Primary, Secondary or Tertiary? Suitable or not? –Authoritative or not? –Biased or not? –Current or not? Credible or not? –Fact or Opinion? –Accurate or not?

9. Primary Sources Primary sources are original materials They are from the time period involved and have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation. Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based. http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html#primary

10. Secondary Sources Secondary sources are less easily defined than primary sources. Generally, they are accounts written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. They are interpretations and evaluations of primary sources. Secondary sources are not evidence, but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence. http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html#primary

11. Tertiary Sources Tertiary sources consist of information which is a distillation and collection of primary and secondary sources. http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html#primary

12. Examples SUBJECTPRIMARYSECONDARYTERTIARY Art and Architecture Painting by ManetArticle critiquing art pieceArtStor database Chemistry/Life Sciences Einstein's diary Monograph on Einstein's life Dictionary on Theory of Relativity Engineering /Physical Sciences PatentNTIS database Manual on using invention Social Studies /Humanities Letters by Martin Luther King Web site on King's writings Encyclopedia on Civil Rights Movement Social Sciences Notes taken by clinical psychologist Magazine article about the psychological condition Textbook on clinical psychology Performing Arts Movie filmed in 1942 Biography of the directorGuide to the movie http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html#primary

13. Source Resources http://www.lib.washington.edu/uwill/resear ch101/basic00.htmhttp://www.lib.washington.edu/uwill/resear ch101/basic00.htm http://www.lib.washington.edu/uwill/resear ch101/Images/primary.swfhttp://www.lib.washington.edu/uwill/resear ch101/Images/primary.swf

14. Documenting Sources

16. Distinguishing Facts from Opinions Facts –Have an objective reality, an actual existence –His father was a king –He was a student of Aristotle –He conquered many lands –He spread Hellenic culture –He didn’t leave a successor Opinions –An information- based assumption, which may be right or wrong –Alexander was Great

17. Prioritizing & Organizing Is every fact important? Are some facts related? What do others think? –Are they looking at different facts? –Are they prioritizing differently?

18. Elements of Mr. Clarke’s Formula 1 - Support For 2 - Support Against 3 - Hypothesis/Thesis 3 1 2

19. 1. Support For Here’s where you collect findings (facts and opinions) that support your argument. –Alexander spread Hellenic culture throughout the Mediterranean.

20. 2. Support Against Here’s where you collect findings (facts and opinions) that counter your argument. –Alexander’s empire collapsed because he failed to provide for an orderly succession.

21. 3. Synthesize & Hypothesize Here’s where you try to boil down all the facts and opinions you’ve collected and form a hypothesis (in other words, a preliminary thesis) that you will defend

22. Applying Mr. Clarke’s Formula Although 2 (Support Against), 3 (Hypothesis/Thesis) because of 1 (Support For) Although Alexander’s empire collapsed because he did not provide for an orderly succession he deserves the title “Great” because he spread Hellenic culture throughout the Mediterranean. 3 1 2

23. Pyramid Structure Ideas are related vertically and horizontally –Each level of the pyramid is a summary of the level below –Items on the same level have the same level of importance –Ideas are presented in logical order Ideas generate questions –How? –Why? Ideas force the reader into a dialog Next Best Support Next Best Support Audience’s Question

24. Constructing Your Paper …or Presentation, or Poster, etc. There is one, clear, central point at the core of a strong argument. The primary supporting elements in the argument should develop from that central point. Supporting elements of a strong argument should be presented in order of their importance. Leave weak or loosely related elements for later – or leave them off entirely. Next Best Support Next Best Support Audience’s Question

25. Three types of groupings Top 3 Number 1Number 2Number 3 Effect Cause 1Cause 2Cause 3 Classification Causes Parts of a whole Rome RepublicEmpireFalll

26. What happens when your findings don’t support your hypothesis? Reflect –Not enough support? More research More analysis Re-write your paper using old thesis & new-found support Reflect –Not enough support? More research More analysis Revise hypothesis Re-write your paper with a revised thesis & using new-found support AB

27. Your Final Paper …Presentation, Poster, etc. Clear –Well-written Coherent –Logical Thorough –As complete as possible, –though possibly not perfectly complete Well-documented