Transcript Academic Research Part 3 Clause 1 Santa Clause Thesis & Outline EXAMPLE: Your outlines does NOT need to be in complete sentences. You may use phrases for each point. Professor Zaiens Developmental Communications 36B 1 December 2009 American.

Academic Research
Part 3
Clause 1
Santa Clause
Thesis &
Outline
EXAMPLE:
Your
outlines does
NOT need to
be in
complete
sentences.
You may use
phrases for
each point.
Professor Zaiens
Developmental Communications 36B
1 December 2009
American Women and Diabetes
Thesis: Thousands of American women are diagnosed with diabetes each year. By
understanding this disease and its causes and treatments, women can live healthier lives.
I. First major section
A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
II. Second major section
A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
III. Third major section
A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example
See full paper here.
See full paper here.
Finding Print Sources
 On-line catalog—in library
Click on Internet Explorer—Library home page
3 ways of searching
title
must be spelled correctly
omit “a,” “an,” or “the” if first word of title
books sorted by date of publication
topic (keyword)
author
Finding Print Sources
 Citation information—found on Detail page
 Info given on author, title, copyright, location—Call
number
 Call number—number found on spine of book, indicates
where book is found in library
Additional Library Resources—Books On-Line
• E-Books
• In catalog, click on URL, which takes you to
NetLibrary
• Go to www.netlibrary.com
• Create a free account while on campus
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Need a password—Mission
To use resources
 On campus--no password is necessary
 At home--need Mission passwords (use the
handout I gave you or get the handout at the
Library Reference Desk)
Magazines
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Intended for general readers
Wide subject area
Authors not experts
Brief articles
Only reviewed by editor, not experts
Weekly, monthly
– ex: Time, NewYorker
Journals
 Intended for specialists
 Specific in focus
 Authors are experts
 Longer articles
 Peer reviewed, includes bibliography
 Monthly, quarterly
Magazines and Journals
 EBSCOhost used most--entire article on line
 Current articles listed first
 Review abstract--summary of article
 Citation info--needed for Works Cited page
 Article can be emailed, saved, or printed
 User ID—Mission
password--la
Locate Appropriate Sources of Information
 Non-print sources
– Audio-visual materials
– Interviews
– CD-ROM’s
– Databases Use this link to get to the LAMC
Library Database page. (Remember: to
access the databases from home, you
must use the passwords on the Library
Handout I gave you). Use EBSCOhost or
National Newspapers (ProQuest).
– Internet
What Is Documentation?
 You must provide information about each
source used in your paper. For example, if
your source is a book, you must include
– Author
– Title
– Publication data (publisher, place published, year
published)
– Page numbers
To access EasyBib (for MLA) or BibMe (for
APA), use this link to the Learning Center.
How to create Works Cited or Reference page
To access EasyBib (for MLA) or BibMe (for
APA), use this link to the Learning Center.
To see the PowerPoint on how to format a
journal from the Library database, click here.
Ways to Use Sources
 Direct quotation with parenthetical citation
 Paraphrase with parenthetical citation
 Summary with parenthetical citation
Direct Quotation--MLA
 Author included in text
– According to Hofritz, “Some candidates are
unprepared to meet the requirements of political
office” (90).
 Author included in citation
– Another writer states, “Some candidates are
unprepared to meet the requirements of political
office” (Hofritz 90).
HOMEWORK: Go to the Writing Lab & ask for
the “Using Quotations in MLA” handout.
Paraphrase--MLA
 Hofritz, for example, believes that not all
candidates are prepared to hold political
offices (90).
Taking Reading Notes
 Use 4” x 6” or 5” x 8” index cards
 Take notes on each source, one card per
statement or fact or topic
 List author and topic on top of card
 Be sure to indicate whether information is a
quote, paraphrase, or summary
 Be SURE to note page number!
Sample Note Card
Berk
ADHD: Treatment--Stimulants
“Researchers do not know precisely why stimulants are
helpful. Some speculate that they change the chemical
balance in brain regions that inhibit impulsiveness and
hyperactivity, thereby decreasing the child’s need to
engage in off-task and self-stimulating behavior.”
Direct quote, p. 360
Using the Internet
for Academic Research
Benefits of Internet Research
 A huge volume of information from
thousands of sources worldwide
 Up-to-the-minute information on news,
weather, etc.
 Information when you need it—no trips
to the library, which is closed at midnight
Pitfalls of Internet Research
A huge volume of information from
thousands of sources worldwide
Anyone can publish a web site
Sites need not be maintained or updated
Sites are not supervised or reviewed for
accuracy
Sites such as AOL are peppered with
sales pitches
Breaking news is unfiltered
How to Locate Sources
 A browser program (Microsoft Explorer or Netscape
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Navigator) helps you find the site you want.
Identify Keywords. Be as specific as possible.
Use Subject Directories (INFOMINE, Lycos, Yahoo)
Use a Search Engine (Alta Vista, WebCrawler,
Infoseek, etc.)
Use a Meta-Search Engine (MetaFind, DogPile,
PROFUsion)
Web Site Addresses
 A Web site has its own address or URL (Uniform
Resource Locator). It must be typed exactly.
 The last part of the URL, called the domain, reveals the
site’s type of sponsor
 .com
companies trying to sell something
 .edu
educational institutions
 .gov
state or federal agencies
 Sometimes you need a name you use online, called a
username, and a password to get started.
Using the Internet for Academic
Purposes
 Two ways to search
– Search engine--i.e. Google
• Computer recommends websites
– Subject Directory--i.e. lii.org
• Librarian recommends websites which have
been reviewed
• Better for academic purposes
Go to Library Homepage→
 →Recommended Websites
– →Subject Directories
– The Best Information on the Net (BIOTN)
– Internet Public Library
– Librarians Index to the Internet (lii.org)
• enter topic→search
– result list—recommended websites, emphasis on
quality, not quantity
– list is annotated—address, when ref. was added
Google—put quotation marks
around term, i.e. “breast cancer”
Does some ranking
– frequency
– Proximity
Advanced search
– Date—select more updated period of time
– Domain
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.edu (educational organization—often more reliable websites)
.org (nonprofit organization—may be biased)
.com (commercial entity)
.net (network of an institution)
.gov (government source—reliable)
.mil
How to Evaluate the Content
of Internet Sources
 Evaluate appropriateness
 Evaluate the source
 Evaluate the level of technical detail
 Evaluate the presentation
 Evaluate completeness
 Check the links to see if they work and are
reputable
Some Helpful Web Sites
 http://www.latimes.com
 http://www.pathfinder.com
 http://www.csun.edu
 http://www.library.csun.edu
 http://www.library.csun.edu/websrch.html
More Helpful Web Sites
 http://www.bartleby.com
 http://www.lamission.edu
 http://www.laccd.edu
Electronic Text Requires New
Reading Strategies
 Traditional text is linear; it progresses in a
single direction.
 Web sites are multidirectional and unique.
 Text on Web sites may not follow the
traditional main idea, supporting details
organization of traditional paragraphs.
 Web site text requires readers to make
decisions.
Electronic Text Requires New
Reading Strategies
 Web sites allow readers the flexibility to choose
the order in which to receive the information.
 Web sites use icons and new symbol systems.
 Web sites use shorter, less detailed sentences and
paragraphs, but a great deal of graphics, links, etc.
Read more slowly, perhaps 25 percent more
slowly!
Electronic Text Requires New
Reading Strategies
 Reading Web sites involves paying attention to
(and being distracted by) sound, graphics, and
movement, as well as words.
 Text on Web sites comes in brief, independent
screenfuls, sometimes called nodes.
 Web sites include numerous links to other Web
sites
 It’s hard to highlight a computer screen
Develop New Ways of
Thinking and Reading
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Focus on your purpose—stay on task!
Get used to the site’s design and layout
Pay attention to how information is organized
Only use links to find the information you need
 Explore links that are related to your topic
 Use Bookmarks and Favorites or note the
addresses of good sites or use delicious.com
 Print and read offline (finally, a way to highlight!)
 Use the “Back” button to find your way “home.”
 Take notes as you explore a complicated Web site