Transcript How to Be a Good Researcher

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This presentation will outline aspects of
what it means to be a good researcher
-- as well as how to be a good writer of
research papers.
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A citation is a writer’s
way of letting the
reader know that given
information came from
another source.
Using the citation, the
reader is able to look
up that specific source
and read more
information from it.
What does it mean to
“cite my sources?”
o
o
Citing your sources means that you
show, within the body of your text,
that you took the words or ideas
from another place.
Failure to acknowledge these
sources can be considered
plagiarism.
Whenever you borrow words or
ideas, you need to acknowledge
their source. The following
situations almost always require
citation:
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whenever you use quotes
whenever you paraphrase
whenever you use an idea that
someone else has already
expressed
whenever you make specific
reference to the work of another
whenever someone else's work
has been critical in developing
your own ideas
(Taken from plagiarism.org)
ACCORDING TO THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER ONLINE
DICTIONARY, TO "PLAGIARIZE" MEANS
 to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of
another) as one's own
 to use (another's production) without
crediting the source
 to commit literary theft
 to present as new and original an idea or
product derived from an existing source
Plagiarism occurs when
you borrow another's
words or ideas and do not
acknowledge that you
have done so.
In other words …
Any information that you
learn while researching
must be appropriately
cited, or else it could be
considered as plagiarism.
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turning in someone else's work but calling
it your own
copying words or ideas from someone
else without giving credit
failing to put a quotation in quotation
marks
giving incorrect information about the
source of a quotation
changing words but copying the
sentence structure of a source without
giving credit
copying so many words or ideas from a
source that it makes up the majority of
your work, whether you give credit or not
(taken from plagiarism.org)
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A direct quote is when you
copy the author’s words
directly from the text and use
that exact wording in your
writing.
Direct quotes are put in
“quotation marks” in the paper –
this shows that it is direct
information and not
paraphrased information.
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Paraphrasing means putting
what you have read into
your own words.
◦ All paraphrased material needs
to be cited in your paper.
◦ Why?
 Because although you have put
it into your own words, it was not
your original idea. You are
borrowing the idea, and since
the idea did not originally come
from you, it must be cited.
Example of a Direct Quote:
“William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a bustling
market town 100 miles northwest of London, and baptized there on
April 26, 1564. His birthday is traditionally celebrated on April 23,
which was the date of his death in 1616 and is the feast day of St.
George, the patron saint of England” (“William Shakespeare”).
Example of a Paraphrase:
In April of 1564, William Shakespeare was born. People celebrate his
birthday on April 23rd --which also happens to be the same day he
died on fifty two years in 1616. Shakespeare’s hometown is Stratfordupon-Avon (“William Shakespeare”).
A credible source is one that is factual and
accurate.
Questions to ask yourself when assessing a
source’s credibility:
◦ Is the author an expert?
◦ Does he or she have credentials listed?
◦ Has the article been published by a noteworthy
institution or organization?
◦ Has the author published other pieces of writing?
◦ Does the author provide a works cited page for their
writing?
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What is MLA?
◦ MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most
commonly used to write papers and cite sources
within the liberal arts and humanities.
Sample In-Text Citations:
◦ Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was
marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful
feelings" (263).
Romantic poetry is characterized by the
"spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings"
(Wordsworth 263).
Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki and James D.
Houston.
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Japanese Internment Research-Based Detailed Paragraph
In class, we are learning what it means to be good researchers. In this project, we are
combining this skill with our developing ability to write argumentatively.
Your Task: Take a stance on Japanese American internment. Your job is to argue your
response to this question: Was America justified in our internment of Japanese Americans
during World War II?
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Requirements to be at least proficient:
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You must present your argument in the format of a detailed paragraph. (Like we have
practiced in class)
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You must include at least TWO direct quotes in your detailed paragraph that are correctly
cited according to MLA formatting.
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You must consult at least TWO different sources.
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Your detailed paragraph will have an accompanying bibliography.
The final product will be assessed on these three learning targets:
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Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences
from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions
drawn from the text.
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using
valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are
appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
The final draft for this is due Wednesday, November 6 th.
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How could you go above proficient?
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Consider using THREE supports and examples instead of two
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Make your argument strong
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Your final draft will reflect careful editing and a strong presentation of your ideas