1. How To Conduct Research
Background and Tips for Conducting Research

2. How Do I Research a Topic?
Before we begin, make a list of possible ways to approach researching a topic. What are some strategies you know of/have used in the past when asked to research something?

3. Where do I start?
The first think you must do when researching is ensure that you understand the assignment.
Take out your assignment sheet for the Teen Issues Paper. In a blank space on your paper create a Do What Chart
In the Do section of your chart list the verbs you see in the prompt.
In the What section of your chart list what you are specifically being asked to do. Do
What

4. Do
What
Research
An issue teens face today
Write
A paper
Explore
The significance of the topic
Explain

5. No do the same thing for the For this paper you must: section of the handout

6. Do
What
Create
A main point about your topic
Reference/cite
At least 3 sources
Use
MLA format/citations
Print/Turn in
All sources you find
Complete
The Pre-Writing Packet
Upload
Essay to turnitin.com by Friday Feb 14th

7. Selecting a Good Topic
The overarching topic of this assignment is to find an issue that teenagers face, however you can select what issue you would like to explore.
When selecting your topic, make sure your topic:
Interests you (this will make researching more enjoyable)
Meets the requirements of the assignment
Is broad enough to give you several search options
Is focused enough that you’re not overwhelmed by information.

8. What do we mean by broad and narrow?
When you select a topic, it should not be something that will not answer a specific question
If you select a topic that is too broad, you will have a difficult time focusing on what it is that you’re looking for, and you will become overwhelmed.
Ex: Teen Drinking
At the same time, you want to pick a topic that is not too specific.
If you select a topic that is too specific, you will have a difficult time finding the information you are looking for, and you will limit the information that you do find.
Ex: Teen drinking/drug use in the San Francisco Bay Area.

9. Balancing Act
An ideal research topic is neither too broad, nor too narrow
It has a direction of what the researcher wants to know about the larger topic, but is not too specific that a limited number of sources will appear.
Ex: Dangers of teen drinking
This specific topic has a focus on what the researcher would like to know about teen drinking, but it is not too limiting in terms of the results the researcher will get

10. Your Turn
On your paper, jot down some questions you have about a topic in mind
Keep who, what, where, when, why, and how in mind
This will help you decide what you want to focus of your research paper to be, and it will give you a good place to start when we get in the lab
Try to explore the question you found the most interesting for your research

11. Types of Resources
The type of information you are looking for will determine the type of source you should use
When looking for a general overview and information on your topic consult websites and encyclopedias
When looking for more details consult newspapers, magazines, news sources, and books
When looking for specific information consult scholarly journals, statistical sources, and government publications
Keep in mind how much you initially know about your topic, and go from there when searching

12. Primary vs. Secondary Sources
A primary source is any type of research that you go out and collect yourself
You are going out and gathering the data yourself
Observations/Analysis
Questionnaires/Surveys
Interviews
A secondary source is research that you are gathering that has been collected by someone else
Searching the web for articles, journals, facts, etc.
Using information from a book, magazine, newspaper

13. Primary vs. Secondary Sources
There are advantages to each type of research
Primary Advantages?
Secondary Advantages?
For this paper you will be using the computer lab to look for secondary sources
However, if you can incorporate a primary source into your research paper that would be awesome!

14. Traditional Print vs. Online Sources
Books and Textbooks
Academic and Trade Journals
Newspapers
Government or Legal Documents
Press Releases and Advertising
Flyers, leaflets, pamphlets
Websites
Weblogs/Blogs
Message boards, forums, chat rooms
Multimedia

15. Online Research In order for online research to be effective:
Think about what you’re looking for when conducting a search. Consider:
Key words that apply
What kind of information you need
Multiple angles
Keeping notes while you research, you may find a new angle to explore
Know what tools you have available
Know how to use the tools you have/understand how they work
Evaluate sources that you find so you know whether or not it’s really helpful
We will do this early next week

16. Works Cited
"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Searching the World Wide Web.
N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb
"What Do You Know?" UC Libraries. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb