Research what’s it good for? Engl 3365

What is research good for? Demonstrates professionalism  Remember that proposals sell an idea  Research shows that you know something about the topic, issue, and solution you’re describing  Research shows the level of work you’ve put into your idea Supports arguments  Remember that convincing ideas sell best  Research provides evidence to support your ideas  Research shows what other people think about the topic, issue, and solution you’re describing Aids further investigation  Research shows where readers can get more information on the topic, issue, or solution you’re describing

Types of Research Can define based on where the info came from  PRIMARY research: the information would not exist if you hadn’t collected it surveys, interviews, photographs, original diagrams  SECONDARY research: the information has been collected or reported by someone else articles, reports, pre-existing diagrams and photos

What research is important for you? Function Background research: shows the size, scope, or other important general features of your problem/issue Descriptive research: describes important features of the solution or course of action you suggest Feasibility research: shows or suggests that the course of action you suggest is realistic, beneficial, etc Source Newspapers and Magazines: great for background info Organizations: great for solution ideas & descriptive info Reports: great for feasibility info

Primary Research Types/Sources  Interviews (including talks with the client)  s (including client s)  Phone Conversations (a type of interview)  Surveys  Pictures TALK TO ME FIRST if you plan to do any kind of primary research for your report besides talking to the client

Secondary Research resources TTU Library 1. Simply ask a librarian for help 2. Use on-line databases and adviceon-line databases Local and National newspapers 1. National news – TTU library Nexis-Lexis search portal 2. Local news – Avalanche-Journal 3. Campus news – Daily Toreador

Document your sources As you’re doing research, use the “can you find it again?” rule of thumb  Write down or save all the information you’d need to find the article, report, or website from scratch  This includes things like publication name, title, author, date, URL, et cetera

A word on proper use If a fact, observation, or opinion is not your own, then you must cite where it came from If you include words that are not your own, then you must cite the source and clearly show that it is a quote If you include a mix of your words and someone else’s, then you must cite the source and clearly show that it is a paraphrase Review the policy presented in the course syllabus. Talk to me if you are at all unclear on this.