How To Conduct Research Background and Tips for Conducting Research

How Do I Research a Topic? Before we begin, make a list of possible ways to approach researching a topic. What are some strategies you know of/have used in the past when asked to research something?

Where do I start? The first think you must do when researching is ensure that you understand the assignment. Take out your assignment sheet for the Teen Issues Paper. In a blank space on your paper create a Do What Chart In the Do section of your chart list the verbs you see in the prompt. In the What section of your chart list what you are specifically being asked to do. Do What

Do What Research An issue teens face today Write A paper Explore The significance of the topic Explain

No do the same thing for the For this paper you must: section of the handout

Do What Create A main point about your topic Reference/cite At least 3 sources Use MLA format/citations Print/Turn in All sources you find Complete The Pre-Writing Packet Upload Essay to turnitin.com by Friday Feb 14th

Selecting a Good Topic The overarching topic of this assignment is to find an issue that teenagers face, however you can select what issue you would like to explore. When selecting your topic, make sure your topic: Interests you (this will make researching more enjoyable) Meets the requirements of the assignment Is broad enough to give you several search options Is focused enough that you’re not overwhelmed by information.

What do we mean by broad and narrow? When you select a topic, it should not be something that will not answer a specific question If you select a topic that is too broad, you will have a difficult time focusing on what it is that you’re looking for, and you will become overwhelmed. Ex: Teen Drinking At the same time, you want to pick a topic that is not too specific. If you select a topic that is too specific, you will have a difficult time finding the information you are looking for, and you will limit the information that you do find. Ex: Teen drinking/drug use in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Balancing Act An ideal research topic is neither too broad, nor too narrow It has a direction of what the researcher wants to know about the larger topic, but is not too specific that a limited number of sources will appear. Ex: Dangers of teen drinking This specific topic has a focus on what the researcher would like to know about teen drinking, but it is not too limiting in terms of the results the researcher will get

Your Turn On your paper, jot down some questions you have about a topic in mind Keep who, what, where, when, why, and how in mind This will help you decide what you want to focus of your research paper to be, and it will give you a good place to start when we get in the lab Try to explore the question you found the most interesting for your research

Types of Resources The type of information you are looking for will determine the type of source you should use When looking for a general overview and information on your topic consult websites and encyclopedias When looking for more details consult newspapers, magazines, news sources, and books When looking for specific information consult scholarly journals, statistical sources, and government publications Keep in mind how much you initially know about your topic, and go from there when searching

Primary vs. Secondary Sources A primary source is any type of research that you go out and collect yourself You are going out and gathering the data yourself Observations/Analysis Questionnaires/Surveys Interviews A secondary source is research that you are gathering that has been collected by someone else Searching the web for articles, journals, facts, etc. Using information from a book, magazine, newspaper

Primary vs. Secondary Sources There are advantages to each type of research Primary Advantages? Secondary Advantages? For this paper you will be using the computer lab to look for secondary sources However, if you can incorporate a primary source into your research paper that would be awesome!

Traditional Print vs. Online Sources Books and Textbooks Academic and Trade Journals Newspapers Government or Legal Documents Press Releases and Advertising Flyers, leaflets, pamphlets Websites Weblogs/Blogs Message boards, forums, chat rooms Multimedia

Online Research In order for online research to be effective: Think about what you’re looking for when conducting a search. Consider: Key words that apply What kind of information you need Multiple angles Keeping notes while you research, you may find a new angle to explore Know what tools you have available Know how to use the tools you have/understand how they work Evaluate sources that you find so you know whether or not it’s really helpful We will do this early next week

Works Cited "Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Searching the World Wide Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014. "What Do You Know?" UC Libraries. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.