The Craft of Research, Ch. 5 From Problems to Sources

Getting the ball rolling The chapter begins by pointing out that “If you are a new researcher and expect to find most of your sources in your library or on the Internet, this chapter will help you develop a plan for your research…” (68). Once you have a question and a workable answer (thesis statement), you can now go out and begin testing it or looking to support it (68). To proceed, you need to have a plan, at least a rough one and that is what you are going to be sharing in the second part of Report 2 assignment

Finding sources Its good to know (or refresh) the THREE kinds of sources as they are commonly defined: Primary Sources Secondary Sources Tertiary Sources

Primary Sources This is where you gather the “raw data” that you make use of when you are building or testing your thesis/argument. These documents would be material that come “from the period or person you are studying, objects, maps, even clothing; in literature and philosophy, your main primary source is usually the text you are studying, and your data are the words on the page” (69). For you guys, this is your Graphic Novel. It is your Primary Source.

Secondary Sources This is material, other material, written about your primary source. This would include any articles and other material that discusses your primary source. “You can use their data [information] to support your argument, but only if you cannot find that data in primary sources. A secondary source becomes a primary source when you study its argument as part of a debate in a field…” (69). For you this could be discussions, article, and scholarly information that is connected to or about your Graphic Novel or its author/artist.

Tertiary Sources This is very generalized information Examples of this are when you find general information material intended for a general readership and this includes things such “as textbooks, articles in encyclopedias and mass-circulation publications . . . And what standard search engines turn up first on the Web” (69). These are what you usually encounter in the beginning. This is what Wikipedia is for us: a starting point. You can use these for your first ventures into exploring the research.

Locating Sources in the Library The Library can be a good place to help focus your research source hunting. Libraries and Librarians not only have access to Databases that you have access to, they can help you focus or expand your research search. Online resources for Collin College Library: https://cougarweb.collin.edu/web/home-community/library Let’s look a bit closer at this resource

Collin college Library

Planning Step 1: Plan you search. One way to approach this is to “Start with an overview of the research on your topic. Look it up in general or specialized encyclopedias [Wikipedia], then in reference works that summarize research in specific areas, as well as bibliographies that list research by area (see pp. 283–311)” (71). Talk to a Librarian. You can even do this online:

Searching Start with the general sources and then work your way inward towards more specific sources. A lot of the searching, both in the Library and without will take place online, on the Web.

Locating sources on the Internet The authors note that the Internet’s major strength as a source is its “numbers” but this “is also its limitation, because it has no gatekeepers” (75). In other words, anyone can write anything. If so, how can you trust it? That’s a big problem you have to deal with. Search engines find and order sources by its popularity. So, you will need to include a method of evaluating and checking the relevance of your sources

Evaluating sources for relevance The book provides some ways to help you approach this: Evaluating Sources for Relevance If your source is a Book: Skim a sources index for key words Skim the first and last paragraphs in chapters for key words Skim prologues and introductions for key words Check the bibliography for relevant titles If your source is an Article: Read the abstract (if it has one) Skim introduction and conclusion for key words Skim bibliography for key words If your source is an Online Source: If it looks like it was a print article, follow the steps for a journal article Skim labels and sub-headings Look for Site Map or Index Look for Search resource

Evaluating sources for reliability “You can’t judge a source until you read it, but there are signs of its reliability you can look for: Evaluating Sources for Reliability I. Is the source published or posted online by a reputable press? II. Was the book or article peer reviewed? III. Is the author a reputable scholar? IV. If the source is available only online, is it sponsored by a reputable organization? V. Is the source current? VI. If the source is a book, does it have a notes and a bibliography? VII. If the source is a Web site, does it include bibliographical data? VIII. If the source is a Web site, does it approach its topic judiciously? IX. If the source is a book, has it been well reviewed? X. Has the source been frequently cited by others?

Following a bibliographic trail I had a professor at TWU who had lovely phrases he would use to inspire his students. One was “in the cause,” another was “blazing your academic trail.” When I was in his Bibliography and Research Methods graduate course he would talk about following a bibliographic trail. I like to call it following the research trail or chasing the rabbit. The book points out that “Most sources will give you trailheads for bibliographical searches. When you find a book that seems useful, skim its bibliography or works cited. Its index will list the authors cited most often . . . Journal articles usually begin with a review of previous research, all cited. By following this bibliographic trail, you can navigate the most difficult research territory, because one source always leads to others, which lead to others…” (80).

Exercise I want you to begin by finding 3-4 sources for your graphic novel (not including your graphic novel). Classify Each Source (is it Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary) Evaluate its Relevance (to your project) in 1-2 sentences Evaluate its Reliability (to your project) in 1-2 sentences Type this up for Wednesday/Thursday class meeting. Use this information to help you in prepping your plan (Methodology) to appear in Report 2 going forward.