Week 2: The Research Process-agenda Undergraduate Research Paper and Steps for the Research Process Research strategies: Finding information sources Selecting, evaluating information sources Copyright and Plagiarism The Works Cited List: Citing Sources using the MLA Format 1
Preparing a Research Paper 1. Select a topic step by step 2. Formulating a thesis or topic statement 3. Draft an outline 4. Consider your search strategy or research plan to gather information 5. Take notes to keep track of your research steps and to avoid plagiarism 6. Write and revise the text of the paper (Drafts) 7. Documenting your sources 2
Step 1:Topic = subject for research or discussion The first step in a library research project is to select a topic and formulate a workable topic statement. If your topic is assigned by your instructor, make sure you understand the scope and context of the topic. After you review the assignment and begin your research, you may need to consult with the instructor to revise the topic and/or clarify the scope. Conduct preliminary research to investigate your topic: Some resources for background information: subject encyclopedias, topic guide books, news articles, CQ Researcher, wikipedia 3
Step 1: Selecting Your Own Topic If you can select your own topic for research, consider the following: Your interests and prior knowledge Manageability/scope What aspects of the topic will you focus on [Narrowing results if needed] TIME current? Historical? This year? Future? PLACE geographic area (country? State, city?) POPULATION (gender, ethnicity, nationality, age, occupation) VIEWPOINT - psychological or political aspects, pro/con, economic, social customs, etc.) SUBTOPIC- (e.g. instead of marine life focus on marine mammals or whales specifically) Type of material needed: popular or scholarly, current or historical Length, type and deadline of the assignment 4
Step 1: Topic and Preliminary Research. USE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS: Research Strategy: State your topic as a research question. What are the main concepts related to this topic? What aspects of the topic are you looking for? Example research question*: Do people who start smoking as teenagers have a greater risk of developing cancer later in life? What are the main concepts? Concept 1 - smoking Concept 2 - teens Concept 3 - cancer Use the concepts to identify subject headings, synonyms or additional keywords and phrases related to your topic. Then use Boolean operators to combine the terms you identified to narrow or broaden your search Concept 1 smoking or cigarettes or tobacco Concept 2 teens or teenagers Concept 3 cancer or health risks or lung cancer Adapted from http://www.northern.edu/library/help/faq.htm#7 5
Step 1: Topic and preliminary research Combine concepts into a search statement, such as: (smoking OR tobacco) AND (teens OR children) AND (cancer OR health risks ) Advanced search options allows boolean-like searching: all of these works like AND example: teenagers AND smoking) any of these words works like OR to find results with synonyms or word variations examples: smoking OR cigarettes OR tobacco teenagers OR teens OR Adolescents without the words or exclude works like NOT to exclude results containing the words (example: Cherokee NOT Jeep) as a phrase searches for words together in specific order that have specific meaning foreign policy vs. Foreign Legion s policy on gays in the military. 6
Information needed depends on the assignment! What type of assignment is it? How much information do you need? Is currency an issue? Is a particular type of publication required? Do you need to use primary sources? Information in a particular format? Is point of view an issue? 7
Step 2: Formulating a Thesis or topic statement The Thesis or topic statement describes the purpose and focus of the paper. Begin with a question - not an opinion. Don t just give the purpose of the paper. Thesis statement should be brief no more than three sentences.) Conduct research to look for points that will shape or form an opinion. Final statement indicates that the thesis is supported by evidence. 8
Developing a Thesis-q Example from The Research Process, by M. Bolner Example Topic: Discrimination of Women Initial Thesis: Does discrimination against women exist in the United States? After further research: What evidence is there of discrimination against women? Is there segregation by sex? Inequality in education and professional opportunities? Final Thesis Statement: Working women are discriminated against in many ways. One of the most obvious is the inequality in pay which exist in traditional male occupations such as managers, business executives, and entertainers. 9
Sample Thesis The Shadow Side of Plastic Packaging in the United States. Thesis Statement Although the recycling of plastic packaging in the United States can diminish the plastic waste stream, the excessive use of plastic packaging is difficult to justify from an environmental as well as from an economic point of view. 10
Step 2-3:Sample Concept Map Drawing one Can help identify issues related to your topic. Brainstorm to identify issues, then select one or more aspects of the topic to focus your research Advantages Health risks Landfills Costs Alternative Packaging Pollution concerns Use of plastic packaging Oceans Recycling and re-use Business or economic concerns Consumer preferences Costs Can it be recycled or re-used? Legal issues and regulations 11
Step 3: Devise your Search Strategy 1. Identify subject headings and key search words for your topic. 2. Consult general and subject encyclopedias for an overview of topic. 3. Search the library online catalog to find books. 4. Search library online databases for periodical articles 5. Try a web search tool for additional information. Part of this week s assignment will help you begin your research: STEP 1 Write a few sentences describing your research topic. STEP 2 Identify 3 or more keywords or phrases that represent this topic to use as your search terms. STEP 3 Identify at least 3 relevant Library of Congress Subject Headings Be sure to include any relevant subdivisions. (NOTE: You will need to use the Library online catalog to identify relevant subject headings) 12
RESEARCH TOPIC EXERCISE (p.76-77) You will be choosing a topic that you will use for the rest of this course on all your assignments and for your final project. Choose a topic from the SIRS topic list (Go to SIRS, click on More Issues in the lower right corner. ) Talk to your neighbor to explain your topic and have your neighbor explain their topic to you. NOTE: For this class, using a topic from SIRS will help you identify a topic for which you are likely to find many resources in the various databases etc. 13
Step 4: Preparing an Outline Your outline is your itinerary for research journey. Your search strategy is your road map and it is determined by your thesis statement. Your outline should divide your thesis statement into its major points and then subdivided into the details of those major points. Your concept map can be turned into an outline. 14
Format of an Outline Thesis statement I. First major point A. First subdivision of first major point 1. Second subdivision (an aspect of I A). a. Third subdivision (part of I A 1) b. Another aspect of part I A 1 i. Forth subdivision (a detail of A 1 b) ii. Another detail of A 1 b B. Second subdivision of first major point 1. Second subdivision of IB II. Second major point
Sample Topic, Thesis & Outline Thesis Statement Although the recycling of plastic packaging in the United States can diminish the plastic waste stream, the excessive use of plastic packaging is difficult to justify from an environmental as well as from an economic point of view. Outline: I. The use of plastic packaging in the United States A. Extent and trends B. Explanations 1. Characteristics of plastic ii. Social changes iii. High marketability II. Environmental consequences of the disposal of plastic packaging A. Impact of landfills B. Effects of incineration III. Recycling of plastic packaging for environmental relief IIIA. Purposes of recycling 1. Bringing back to original use 2. Producing other goods 3. Creating fuel or chemicals 4. Recovering energy by incineration B. Legal aspects C. Extent of recycling 1. Current trends IV. Economic evaluation of the use of plastic packaging A. Most efficient distribution of real costs and incentives B. Actual distribution of real cost and incentives
Step 5: Taking Notes Keep a research journal Whether you take notes or print information from an electronic resource, make sure you include the citation information so you can keep track of the source of the information for your Works Cited List and avoid plagiarism. 17
Step 6: Writing the Research Paper Typical Elements Your instructor may give you more detailed instructions, but these are the general components of a research paper. Cover page Thesis statement and outline Text of the paper Introduction Body (with logical development within and between paragraphs) Conclusion Bibliography (or List of Works Cited) 18
Plagiarism and You Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another person without citing your source. Using a direct quotation or copying from another source without citing that source is plagiarism. Summarizing or paraphrasing without citing your source is plagiarism So when in doubt, cite the source! For more information on plagiarism, try: Plagiarism: What It is, How to Recognize and Avoid It. http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml#wwwplagiarism You Quote It, You Note It Tutorial on understanding and Recognizing Plagiarism from Acadia University. http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/plagiarism/ Turnitin.com -Research Resources www.turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html 19
PLAGIARISM EXERCISE **PART I Pair with one or two classmates, read the scenarios. As a group decide if the situation constitutes plagiarism and why it is or isn t. You can decide if the situation constitutes a grey area be prepared to give reasons on either side of the argument. **PART II Short quiz website on recognizing plagiarism (https://www.indiana.edu/~tedfrick/plagiarism/index2.html) 20
Step 7: Documenting your Sources Give credit to your information sources Use In-Text (parenthetical) Citations when you quote, paraphrase or use information within your research paper List the information sources you use for your research in a Bibliography, or List of Works Cited (MLA Format) or References (APA Format) Follow the format for the style specified by the instructor. In LIB 1, we will use MLA (Modern Language Association) Citation Format Format describes the order of the bibliographic elements. 21
MLA Format for Books Author s Last Name, First Name. Book Title: Subtitle if needed. Edition information. City of Publication: Publishing company, publication date. Medium of publication. Example: Starr, Cecie. Biology: Concepts and Applications. 4 th ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, 2000. Print. 22
MLA Format for Articles from Print Magazine: Author s Last Name, First Name. ArticleTitle. Periodical Title Issue date: pages or number of pages. Medium of publication or access. Scholarly Journal: Author s Last Name, First Name. Article Title. Journal Title volume number.issue number (year): pages. Medium of publication or access. NOTE: If article has 3 or fewer authors, list additional authors First name Last Name. If article has no author, list it in the Works Cited alphabetically by its title.
MLA Format for Articles from Library Periodical Databases Cite the article using the correct format (e.g. magazine, newspaper, or scholarly journal, then add the library and database information Use for: Proquest, SIRS, Project MUSE, Opposing Viewpoints, CQ Researcher Author s Last Name, First Name. Title of Article. Publication Title [in italics] volume.issue: [for journal articles] Date* of Publication : pages. Name of Database [in italics]. Medium of publication or access. Access date. [Day Month Year] * For scholarly journal articles the date of publication is the year enclosed in parentheses.
Articles from Online Encyclopedias or Reference Databases Use for Encyclopedia Britannica Online, World Book Web, Discovering Collection) Author s Last Name, First Name. Article Title. Title of Database. Version number or date. Medium of access. Access date. MLA Format for WEB PAGES Author s Last Name, First Name [if known]. Title of Web Page or Posting. [in quotation marks] Title of Web Site. [in italics] Sponsor or publisher of site, [not advertising sponsor. Use n.p. if none] Date of publication or last update. [Day month year] Medium of Access. Date of access.[day month year] <Electronic address (URL)>. [If required by your instructor] NOTE: Identifying the citation elements for web pages is often difficult.
Information Literacy & You: a useful research guide *From Penn State University www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/infolit/andyou/infoyou.htm