Rescue for the Researcher and Writer

The Research Process 1.Planning the project 2.Selecting / refining a topic 3.Finding sources 4.Evaluating your sources 5.Organizing your findings 6.Writing & revising

Time Management

Understanding Your Assignment  Format of the project (research paper, oral presentation, design...)  Length  Audience  Assessment criteria  Citation style (APA, MLA...)

Exploring Your Topic Google Hint: ~sustainable development will search for sustainable development and its common synonyms define: sustainable development will search for definitions and links Brainstorm ideas for a topic Come up with keywords Consider using broader & narrower terms

Webbing Penn State University Libraries. (2005). Retrieved August 22, 2005, from

Thesis Statement  States the topic / main idea of the paper  Shows the purpose of your paper  Shows the direction of your argument  Written in focused, specific language  It is interesting

Looking for Information  Check the library for:  Books  Periodicals  Government documents  Newspapers  Videos  Human expertise

Looking for Information  Check the world wide web for:  The Invisible Web (beyond google)  Online databases  Current information (online newspapers, articles, studies...)  The Library’s Best of the Web pages

Using & other General Search Engines Many web pages are free Most web pages are commercial Anyone can create and publish a webpage Information on the web is Not highly organized Not always comprehensive Not permanent

Evaluate your Sources  Accuracy  Does the source seem correct? Do you need to check the information with a second source?  Currency  Is this source up to date?  Objectivity  Is this source unnecessarily biased?  Coverage  What is the purpose of this source?  Authority  Who is the author / publisher of this source?

Going Beyond Google Holland College Library has licensed several databases that provide access to full text articles and current information: Canadian Business & Current Affairs ABI/INFORM Academic Search Elite Professional Development Collection Vocational & Career Collection Encyclopedia Britannica Gale Health & Wellness

Taking Notes  Avoid plagiarism  Read the information, think, then put what you’ve read in your own words  Avoid cutting and pasting  Identify direct quotes  Document your sources as you take notes

 Create descriptive headings / subtopics  Use index cards or paper that can easily be reorganized  Keep the notes short  Add personal comments Taking Notes

Creating an Outline I.Introduction A.Grab audience attention B.State thesis II.Body A.Build points B.Develop ideas C. Support main claim III.Conclusion A.Reemphasize main idea

Writing the Rough Draft  Introduction  Be very clear about what the main idea is  Body  Turn the key ideas in your outline into paragraphs  Conclusion  Sum up your thesis – show you have proven something

Introduction  8 ways to introduce your topic 1.Background information 2.Definition 3.Story 4.Question 5.Quotation 6.Contradiction 7.Fact or statistic 8.Surprising statement

Body of the Paper  Topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph  Supportive ideas follow the main idea  With each new “big” idea, start a new paragraph  Sentences and paragraphs should be smooth and logically connected

Conclusion  4 Ways to conclude your paper 1.Review key points and restate your thesis in a “new” way 2.Recommend a course of action 3.Make a prediction 4.End with a relevant quotation

Editing your Rough Draft  If time allows, set it aside for a day or so.  Editing tools  Dictionary / spell check  Thesaurus  Grammar & punctuation handbook / grammar check  Red pen  An editor

Writing the Final Draft  Word processed is usually preferred  Pay attention to appearance  Read the paper out loud  Don’t forget to credit your sources  Bibliography / works cited page  Create a snappy title  Keep a backup copy

If you have any questions or need help with your researching and writing, please contact us at Holland College Library Services.

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