The Research ProcessThe Research Process

Simple Steps for SuccessSimple Steps for Success

Developing a PlanDeveloping a Plan

Create an OutlineCreate an Outline 1.1. Present ThesisPresent Thesis2.2. Define unclear terms from thesisDefine unclear terms from thesis3.3. Raise three supporting points for Raise three supporting points for

thesisthesis4.4. Consider data to be used for Consider data to be used for

supportsupport5.5. Determine the types of examples Determine the types of examples

you might useyou might use6.6. Consider possible opposition to Consider possible opposition to

thesisthesis

Creating a Search StrategyCreating a Search Strategy

Questions to answer:Questions to answer:1.1. What types of sources will I consult?What types of sources will I consult?2.2. In what order should I consult them?In what order should I consult them?

Reference materials (encyclopedias, almanacs, Reference materials (encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries)dictionaries)BooksBooksPeriodicals (newspapers, journals, magazines)Periodicals (newspapers, journals, magazines)Vertical Files (pamphlets, unpublished materials)Vertical Files (pamphlets, unpublished materials)Sources beyond the library: InternetSources beyond the library: Internet

Using GoogleUsing GoogleGo to Go to www.google.comwww.google.com

Type in a topic within the search box, for example, “The Type in a topic within the search box, for example, “The Minuteman Project.”Minuteman Project.”

Finding Websites with GoogleFinding Websites with Google

Finding News on GoogleFinding News on Google

Click on “News” at top of screenClick on “News” at top of screen

Assessing Internet SourcesAssessing Internet SourcesWho is the author? An expert? A Who is the author? An expert? A Layman?Layman?Is the information based on facts Is the information based on facts or opinions?or opinions?Is the topic regarding ethical or Is the topic regarding ethical or moral issues?moral issues?Is the author trying to sell Is the author trying to sell something other than something other than information?information?Can I find at least two other Can I find at least two other corroborating articles or pieces corroborating articles or pieces of information?of information?

Maintaining a Working Maintaining a Working BibliographyBibliography

Create a bibliographic 3X5 notecard for Create a bibliographic 3X5 notecard for each source you consult—each source you consult—On the notecard, place the following info—On the notecard, place the following info— AuthorAuthor Title(s) of articles, journals, newspapersTitle(s) of articles, journals, newspapers Date and place of publicationDate and place of publication Publisher’s name Publisher’s name Date of access (when you looked it up)Date of access (when you looked it up) Internet address (URL)Internet address (URL)

Sample CardSample Card

MAGAZINE

Brown, Quincey. “Why We Need the Minutemen in Modern America.” Time 15 March 2005: 33+.

Sample CardSample Card

INTERNET ARTICLE

Johnson, Bruce. “Stop the Flow: It’s Time to Close the Borders!” Newsweek Online 30 January 2005. 4 April 2005. www.newsweek.com.

Sample CardSample Card

BOOK CALL #

Zulula, Marcy. The History of Immigration in America: Legal and Illegal. New York: Bantam Books, 2004.

Taking Notes on your SourcesTaking Notes on your Sources

Whenever you are Whenever you are consulting a text that consulting a text that you could possibly you could possibly use for information to use for information to put into your essay, put into your essay, you should consider you should consider how you want to pull how you want to pull out this information…out this information…

Do you want to…Do you want to…

How to Pull Out Information: Do You How to Pull Out Information: Do You Want to…Want to…

ParaphraseParaphrase (putting the original words into your own (putting the original words into your own language using your own style; it should sound like language using your own style; it should sound like youyou))

SummarizeSummarize (capturing the main point/idea from the (capturing the main point/idea from the original and shortening the passage)original and shortening the passage)

QuoteQuote (pulling out direct phrases or sentences from the (pulling out direct phrases or sentences from the original—ONLY use for 15% of paper for original—ONLY use for 15% of paper for

Expert opinionExpert opinion

Memorable/beautiful languageMemorable/beautiful language

Concise/accurate, technical, medical languageConcise/accurate, technical, medical language

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

How to Tips:How to Tips:

Read the original several timesRead the original several timesRead two pages before and after the section that you will Read two pages before and after the section that you will useuseDo NOT look at the original when you are paraphrasing.Do NOT look at the original when you are paraphrasing.Try to explain the information aloud to someoneTry to explain the information aloud to someoneWrite out the paraphrase right after you explain itWrite out the paraphrase right after you explain itIf paraphrase seems too informal, revise it with formal If paraphrase seems too informal, revise it with formal language/style (edit out “You” and contractions and language/style (edit out “You” and contractions and slang, etc.) slang, etc.)

Paraphrase ExampleParaphrase Example

Original passage: “According to the Border Original passage: “According to the Border Patrol agents working along the Arizona-Patrol agents working along the Arizona-Mexico line, vigilantes are unwelcome Mexico line, vigilantes are unwelcome because they pose an immediate threat to because they pose an immediate threat to the official codes and standards of the official codes and standards of immigrant spotting, questioning, detaining, immigrant spotting, questioning, detaining, and deporting.” and deporting.”

Paraphrase ExampleParaphrase Example

Acceptable Paraphrase:Acceptable Paraphrase:

Agents patrolling the Arizona-Mexico Agents patrolling the Arizona-Mexico landscape do not support the idea of a landscape do not support the idea of a civilian group watching for illegal civilian group watching for illegal immigrants crossing. They worry that immigrants crossing. They worry that these civilians will not know how to these civilians will not know how to properly find, interrogate, hold, and send properly find, interrogate, hold, and send back the undocumented aliens.back the undocumented aliens.

SummarizingSummarizing

How to Tips:How to Tips:

Reread the passage several times to try to Reread the passage several times to try to get the main pointget the main point

Practice stating the main point in a single Practice stating the main point in a single sentencesentence

Begin the summary with words like: “This Begin the summary with words like: “This text is trying to show….” or “These text is trying to show….” or “These passages/sections prove/demonstrate….”passages/sections prove/demonstrate….”

Summary ExampleSummary Example

Original Passage:Original Passage:

““Throughout history, civilians have attempted to Throughout history, civilians have attempted to take on the roles of government, especially take on the roles of government, especially when they believed that government was not when they believed that government was not doing its job or was doing something that would doing its job or was doing something that would intentionally or inadvertently harm the common intentionally or inadvertently harm the common person. For example……(several examples person. For example……(several examples given over several pages).” given over several pages).”

Summary ExampleSummary Example

Acceptable Summary: (This passage shows Acceptable Summary: (This passage shows that…)that…)

It is not a new phenomenon that average It is not a new phenomenon that average people are banning together to correct the people are banning together to correct the injustices they perceive come straight from injustices they perceive come straight from government.government.

Quote ExampleQuote Example

According to James Gilchrist, founder of the According to James Gilchrist, founder of the Project, “The Minutemen have been Project, “The Minutemen have been completely successful in sending the completely successful in sending the message to Washington that the American message to Washington that the American people are tired of having borders—only in people are tired of having borders—only in theory, not in reality” (25).theory, not in reality” (25).

Documenting your SourcesDocumenting your Sources

Using MLA Citations:Using MLA Citations:

1.1. In-text parentheticalsIn-text parentheticals (following (following ANYTHING BORROWED with a set of ANYTHING BORROWED with a set of parentheses)parentheses)

2.2. End-text parentheticals/Works CitedEnd-text parentheticals/Works Cited (containing a list of all the sources that (containing a list of all the sources that you USE/CITE within your essayyou USE/CITE within your essay

In-Text ParentheticalsIn-Text Parentheticals

Use a set of parentheses at the end of any Use a set of parentheses at the end of any sentence in which something was either sentence in which something was either quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. Parentheses will usually contain the Parentheses will usually contain the following:following:(Author’s Last Name page)(Author’s Last Name page)(“First Few Words of Title” page)(“First Few Words of Title” page)

Sample In-Text ParentheticalsSample In-Text Parentheticals

The faces of white supremacists have become The faces of white supremacists have become much more conservative in recent years with much more conservative in recent years with leaders showing up at white power rallies in leaders showing up at white power rallies in three piece suits and designer shoes (Simpson 5 three piece suits and designer shoes (Simpson 5 of 10). “These groups look more like stock of 10). “These groups look more like stock market specialists than Klansmen,” says former market specialists than Klansmen,” says former WAR member, Spongebob Squarepants (A2). WAR member, Spongebob Squarepants (A2). Not only are these men and women looking Not only are these men and women looking more mainstream but they are tailoring their more mainstream but they are tailoring their speech to sound more in line with political speech to sound more in line with political correctness (Brown 15). correctness (Brown 15).

Works CitedWorks Cited

This is your bibliography where you will list the This is your bibliography where you will list the sources used in the paper—sources used in the paper—Alphabetically by author’s last name OR by title Alphabetically by author’s last name OR by title if anonymousif anonymousDouble-spacedDouble-spacedIndenting five spaces the second (and third) line Indenting five spaces the second (and third) line of each source entryof each source entryTitled “Works Cited” centered at the top of the Titled “Works Cited” centered at the top of the pagepage

Sample Works Cited PageSample Works Cited Page

Works CitedWorks Cited

Brown, John. Brown, John. The Freedom to Speak FreelyThe Freedom to Speak Freely. New York: . New York: Bantam Books, 2003.Bantam Books, 2003.

Simpson, Bart. “The Art of Failure.” Simpson, Bart. “The Art of Failure.” Time Online Time Online 14 14 February 2005. 15 February 2005. February 2005. 15 February 2005. www.timemagazine.comwww.timemagazine.com..

Squarepants, Spongebob. “Understanding Cartoon Squarepants, Spongebob. “Understanding Cartoon Characters.” Characters.” Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times 15 February 2005: A2. 15 February 2005: A2.

““Zealots or Terrorists?” Zealots or Terrorists?” American Civil Liberties Union. 10 American Civil Liberties Union. 10 January 2005. 14 February 2005. January 2005. 14 February 2005. www.aclu.orgwww.aclu.org..

Helpful CitesHelpful Cites

Modern Language AssociationModern Language Associationwww.mla.orgwww.mla.orgPurdue University’s Writing LabPurdue University’s Writing Labhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/http://owl.english.purdue.edu/Honolulu Community College Honolulu Community College

LibraryLibraryhttp://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylibhttp://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylib/mlahcc.html/mlahcc.html

A Final ThoughtA Final Thought

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

"Each problem that I solved became a rule which served afterwards "Each problem that I solved became a rule which served afterwards to solve other problems." to solve other problems."

- Rene Descartes (1596-1650), "Discours de la Methode" - Rene Descartes (1596-1650), "Discours de la Methode"

"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." right."

- Henry Ford (1863-1947) - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'." "Do, or do not. There is no 'try'." - Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back')- Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back')

Good Luck!!!Good Luck!!!