Asking Questions, Finding Sources Jasmine Robinson Grant Harding Jacob Frank Michi Elko Andrew Albin

Characteristics Of a Good Research Paper A research paper should pose an interesting and significant problem A research paper should respond to the problem with a contestable thesis In a research paper, sources should be used purposefully and ethically

An Effective Approach to Research  Use critical thinking to better the information found into a manageable and educational form  Throughout, your research data should come from credible sources that are documented in a formal, academic style

The Role of Documentation in College Research  Documentation is a critical role in the ethos of a paper giving you proper credential and the ability to show hard evidence to persuade ones reader 1.To develop your own answer to your research question (your thesis) by bringing your critical thinking to bear on your research sources 2. to position yourself in a conversation with others who have addressed the same question

Argue your own thesis in response to a research question.  Begin with a good research question -Keeps you in charge of your writing

Topic Focus Versus Question Focus  A topic focus invites you to collect information without a clear purpose  Question focus requires you to be a critical thinker, you must access and weigh data and understand multiple points of view

Formulating a Research Question  Good research questions can emerge from puzzles that you pose for yourself or from controversial questions already “ Out there” that are being actively debated by others  In some cases your initial research question will evolve as you do your research  Examples:  Are you personally interested in this question?  Is the question both problematic and significant?

Establishing Your Role as a Researcher  after you have formulated your research question, you need to consider the possible roles you might play as a researcher  Your role is connected to the aim or purpose of your paper- to explore, to inform, to analyze, or to persuade.

Understand difference among kinds of sources  You have to understand the different kinds of sources you use to be a good researcher  Primary versus secondary  Print versus web sources

Primary and Secondary Sources  Primary Sources- Original documents, artifacts, or data that you are actively analyzing  Secondary Sources- are works by other people who have analyze the same documents, artifacts, or data

Print sources versus web-only sources  Print sources- stable in contrast to materials published on web sites, which might change hourly (Books, Journals, Magazines, and newspapers)  Web-only sources- from individuals or small organizations may be unedited and thus unreliable

Scholarly Books and Journals articles versus Trade books and magazines  Scholarly Books and Journals- published by non profit organizations, peer reviewed  Trade book- for profit and the business is to make profit, normally sloppy, unreliable, and heavily biased material

Use purposeful strategies for searching libraries, database, and web sites  This section teaches you how to use your campus libraries and resources on the world wide web  These sources are more reliable and have an academic background to it