1. Basic Terms
Research—the process of finding information relevant to a particular topic
Source—any medium that provides information relevant to a particular topic

2. Primary Sources
Definition: “first-hand” sources; information you gather yourself
Examples: interviews, surveys, experiments, observations
Advantages: This information is about your topic specifically.

3. Secondary Sources
Definition: “second-hand” sources; information that you access that has been gathered by someone else.
Examples: books, newspaper articles, magazine articles, websites, studies, product brochures, manuals, etc.
Advantages: Someone else has done the work for you; you just have to locate the source.

4. Sample: Wayfinding at IVCC
Finding one’s way from one location to another without knowing the way ahead of time
Use of maps, signs, or other methods to help with wayfinding

5. Wayfinding at IVCC Topic: Improving wayfinding at IVCC
Audience: Board of Trustees
Writers: Our class

6. Wayfinding at IVCC
What are some specific problems/challenges at IVCC with wayfinding?
What are the negative effects of these problems/challenges, actual or potential?
What specific solutions might improve wayfinding at IVCC?
What are the potential benefits of these solutions?

7. Research Steps Identify research needs/questions.
Find sources that provide this information.
Evaluate sources to determine which are the most informative and convincing.
Incorporate information and cite correctly.

8. Identify Research Needs/Questions
1) Enhancing Knowledge
Sources provide knowledge beyond your own.
2) Enhancing Credibility (the degree to which you are convincing or believable)
Sources provide support or evidence for what you claim

9. Wayfinding at IVCC
What information do we need to find to enhance our own knowledge?
What information do we need to find to convince our readers?
What questions do we need our research to answer?