Research 101

Yes.

Let’s remember …

Scoping Topics – The Goldilocks Principle

Two Theories of Research(1) The Question :: You are on a Hunt for the Answer to

Something. AKA, Searching for a Fact to Support the Idea I Already Have- Proof Texting- The Need to Support-

(2) The Topic :: You are searching for your thesis. AKA, Looking for What the Facts Support.-

Good enough.What makes for solid evidence?

• What I Tell My Freshmen: Facts, statistics, expert opinion, examples, anecdotes

• What I’m Telling You: Yes, and – Where it comes from it Super-Duper Important …

• Newspaper Articles• Online Magazines• Journal Articles• Book Articles / Chapters• Interviews

Newspaper Articles / Online Magazines- Search engines on newspaper websites are generally TERRIBLE- Use Google (or other search engines) to find articles (Key words + Name of Newspaper)-Use News articles as examples rather than as a sources for facts-Other online articles can be used as well

Academic JournalsReliable, peer-reviewed, specific to your discipline

-JSTOR -LAPL Databases-Academic Journals.org

(N.B. search engine is terrible)Hints:

1. Use advanced search2. Do different levels of searches

(general/specific)3. Use the “full text” setting

Book Chapters / Articles

- N.B. Literary papers- Look for collections of articles / introductory books

-The Cambridge Guide to …-The Cambridge Companion to …-The Oxford Guide to …

- GO TO THE LIBRARY AND BROWSE-Or, at least, the library website-Take some time to explore the library website of one of your top schools

After you’ve found the material,You’ve got to use it.

Incorporating citations– Use a quotation

• Key point, vital phrasing• In paragraph vs. block quotation (When it doubt,

keep it short & simple)

– Use a citation• Need to back up information• Don’t want to distract from the flow of the argument

– Use nothing• Common knowledge• Analysis / your argument

What is Style?

Welcome to the World of Style Guides …

• Different disciplines have different standards for how academic work is cited and what academic papers look like. Why?– English/Humanities: MLA (Modern Languages Association)

• http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/library/mla.pdf

– Psychology/Education/History: APA (American Psychological Association)• http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch09_s1-0009.html

– Chicago Manual of Style (Footnotes!)• http://dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-bish-cms.pdf

– Sociology: ASA (American Sociological Association)• http://www.docstyles.com/library/asalite.pdf

– Medicine: AMA (American Medical Association)• http://library.tamu.edu/help/help-yourself/citing-sources/files/Using-the-AMA-Style.pdf

– Sciences: CSE (Council of Science Editors)– Anthropology: AAA (American Anthropological Association)– Turabian

Cal State LA Library , OWL @ Purdue

Use a Citation (MLA)

Americans lead the world in coffee drinking, consuming an average of 3.4

cups per person per day (Pennybacker 18). Gourmet coffee houses are

sprouting up all over the place. But what is the real story behind this dark

brown liquid? Is it as innocent as it first seems—just a pleasant morning pick-

me-up? Unfortunately it isn’t. Much of today’s coffee is grown in such a way

that it damages the environment, although it has been proven that there are far

less harmful methods.

N.B. The Citation Form will change based on your Style Guide

Use a Citation (Chicago)

[See Word Document]

Research