Transcript Document 7202800

6. Doing the Research
Ken
9610051A
Nicky 9610903A
Agnes 9610503A
Jennifer 9810014E
Edward 9610009A
6a What information to look for
6a-1 Single-fact information
To answer specific factual questions.
 6a-2 General information
To provide an overview of a subject or a
particular topic.
 6a-3 In-depth information
In-depth information be found in sources that a
topic in detail.
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6b Where to look for information
Ask your librarian about online databases.
Look up your topic in an outline encyclopedia.
Check the Library of Congress’s online
catalog for books on your subject.
Consult Appendix B of this book for an
annotated listing of reference sources.
Please turn to our textbook p.229
Google is a good beginning.
Check the bibliography at the end of
encyclopedia articles.
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Search the computerized library catalog under
the subject heading as well as any suggested
cross listing.
Check Book Review Digest for summaries of
reviewed book.
Check a standard dictionary or go to
Dictionary. com
Check Who’s Who for information about
noteworthy people.
Consult gazetteers and atlases
General indexes
United States
History
1865-1898
Custer’s Black Hills Expedition [Cover story] W. C. Patric. il
map por American History v38 no2 p34-42 Je 2003
1961-1963
JFK’s Second Term [Excerpt from An Unfinished Life] R.
Dallek. Atlantic Monthly (1993) v291 no5 p58-61, 64-6 Je
2003
1969-1974
Capers, Tapers, &c. [30th anniversary of Watergate hearings]
D. Frum. National Review v55 no11 p56 Je 16 2003
Specialized indexes

Specialized indexes: catalog information on
specific subjects.
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Different specific subjects have their own
indexes
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Choose the right index on your subject
Using interviews and surveys
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Interview is another important source of
information.

Expert is recognized as an authority in a
particular subject.

In addition, experts can be someone who has
had a unique experience.

You have to establish expert’s credentials
to evidence he or she is an expert.

Judge whether he or she is an expert on your topic or
not.

Do not use the interview of experts and eyewitness
only.

Some research projects require surveys, especially in
psychology and social sciences.
Corresponding by e-mail

E-mailing an expert and asking the right
questions is an efficient way of getting
information.

Be sure to identify yourself and your research
project, and to ask specific, pointed question so
that the expert knows what you’re getting at and
can answer quickly.
Attending lectures, concerts, or art exhibits

A famous lecturer, artist, or musician passing
through your campus or town may be used as
unique citation on your chosen topic.

Whatever you do, don’t forget to make a
bibliographic card linked to your notes so you
can make accurate citation of the source when
you write the paper.
6c Assembling a working bibliography
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The process:
 3x5 card
 Name of authors
Title of work
Facts of publication
Pages of information
 Location of source
 Library call number
6d Selecting your sources: Skimming
Here are some hints.

Glance at the preface.
That’s where the author usually recounts the
major ideas.

Look up the subject in the index of the book.
You can easily see where is your source on which
page.

Read the chapter headings.
Subheadings also can tell you the major ideas.

Read the first and last two sentences in
paragraph.
To find out what information it contains.
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Glance at the opening paragraph.
The author’s thesis is stated in the first
paragraph.

Glance at concluding paragraphs.
These final paragraphs sum up the major ideas.
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Reading every fourth or fifth sentence.
To get a fair idea
Primary and secondary
sources

Primary sources are original writings by an
author, documents, artifacts, laboratory
experiments, other data that provide firsthand
info.

Secondary sources are writings, speeches, or
other document about a primary sources.
Paper should consist of primary and secondary
sources of evidence.
Evaluating sources

Choose sources that cover your particular
subject in depth.
Choose only material that hits the proverbial nail
on the head of your topic.
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Recognize the point of view in sources..
The title and opening paragraph reveal the writer’s
point of view.

Verify one opinion against another.
To check the opinion whether it is agreed with
other experts.

Note the date of the evidence.
In researching topics, you should seek the up-todate data that is the most important.
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Exercise your editorial judgment.
Use your common sense and attention to
evaluating the source of evidence.

Check your evaluations against those of
professionals.
Researcher should check the author whether
he/she is qualified for giving you evaluation or
not.

Beware of statistics.
What the statistics we use are specific and concrete
with credibility.
6e Note-taking
6e-1 Choosing the Number of Notes
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The paper demands:
a. Your opinionated conclusions
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b. Evidence and other opinions supporting them
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6e-2 Formatting the Note Cards
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Use 4×6 cards
Write in ink
Write down only one idea on each card
Identify the source of the note
Jot down a general heading
6e-2 Formatting the Note Cards
sources
Fulop-Miller 3-10
General
heading
Rasputin’s appearance
The content of your notes……
4 × 6 Cards
6e-3 Using the Computer to Take Notes
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Two approaches:
a. Download material
print it out
highlight the passages
 b. Keep electronic sources in the computer
organize them by files
transfer
quotations by the tool of copy and paste

Attention please:
1.Well-organized sources in your computer!
2. How to keep track of your source?
Well-organized sources in your computer
6e-4 Using a Copy Machine to Take Notes

Suggestions :
 Write down details about source immediately
after copying it.
 Be neat about the pages you copy
Much
easier !
6e-5 Kinds of Notes
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Four kinds of notes:
a. The summary
b. The paraphrase
c. The quotation
d. The personal comment
a. The Summary
Condensation of significant facts
Common sense should govern your use of
summary
(Figure 6-5 on Rasputin)
b. The Paraphrase (most common form)
The purposes of paraphrasing:
It shows that you have mastered the material
It gives your paper a consistent style
(Figure 6-6 on Rasputin)
c. The quotation
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1)
2)
If the quotation contains a misspelled or other errors,
reproduce it faithfully, placing beside it [sic]
The rules to avoid overusing quotation:
Limit quoted material to no more than 10% of the total
paper
Quote only when the authority of the writer is needed
or when the material can’t be paraphrased or
summarized
d. The personal comment
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Your ideas & conjectures & conclusions
Stapling
Plagiarism and how to avoid it
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Plagiarism is the act of passing another’s words
and ideas as your own.
To avoid plagiarism you have to do
the following:
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Provide a note for any idea borrowed from
another.
Place quoted material in quotation marks.
Provide a bibliography entry at the end of the
paper for every source used in the text or in a
note.
The following must be accompanied by a
citation specifying author and source:
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Any idea derived from a known source.
Any fact or data borrowed from the work of
another.
Any especially clever or apt expression, whether
or not it says something new, that is taken from
someone else.
Any material lifted verbatim from the work of
another.
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Any information that is paraphrased or
summarized and then used in a research paper.
Thank you for your listening