Rescue for the Formal Researcher & Writer

The Research Process 1.Planning the project 2.Selecting / refining a topic 3.Finding sources 4.Evaluating your sources 5.Organizing your findings 6.Writing & revising

Time Management

Tips for the Time Challenged Identify your deadline or other key dates, and work backwards to today Chunk up your research tasks, and spread them through your calendar Allow yourself a little more time than you may actually need

Understanding Your Assignment  Format of the project (formal paper, oral presentation, technical report, design...)  Length  Audience  Assessment criteria  Citation style (APA, MLA...)

Exploring your Topic  Chosen for you, or choose for yourself  Refine your topic to something that is interesting to you  Too broad / too narrow dilemma  Your overall topic is surveying equipment. Do you write about all the different kinds of surveying equipment? Too broad Do you write about the proper footwear for surveying? Too narrow Do you write about why GPS is essential to the Construction & Architecture industries? Just right

Keep Exploring Google Hints: ~GPS will search for the word and its common synonyms. define:GPS will give you a variety of definitions and links to relevant pages. Brainstorm ideas for a topic Come up with keywords Create a Concept Map Consider using broader & narrower terms

Concept Map - Web

Looking for Information  Check the library for:  Books  Periodicals  Government documents  Newspapers  Videos  Human expertise

Looking for Information  Check the world wide web for:  The Invisible Web (beyond google)  Online databases  Current information (online newspapers, articles, studies...)  The Library’s Best of the Web pages  Streaming media (you tube)

Using & other General Search Engines Many web pages are free Most web pages are commercial Anyone can create and publish a webpage Information on the web is Not highly organized Not always comprehensive Not permanent

Evaluate your Sources for:  Accuracy  Currency  Objectivity  Coverage  Authority

Subject Specific Engines ARCHITECTURE    index.html index.html  /fnart/fa267/ /fnart/fa267/  fnart/arch/ fnart/arch/ CONSTRUCTION    ortal/server.pt ortal/server.pt  erminology.php erminology.php

Going Beyond Google Holland College Library Holland College Library has licensed several databases that provide access to full text articles and current information

Rescue for the Formal Researcher & Writer Part 2: Formatting your Paper

Taking Notes  Avoid plagiarism  Read the information, think, then put what you’ve read in your own words  Avoid cutting and pasting  Identify direct quotes  Document your sources as you take notes

Preparing to Write  The purpose of this document is _________________.  the problem this document addresses  the technical issues or major points to be made  what the document will do for readers

Creating an Outline  Show relationships between ideas  Identify main ideas & supporting ideas (use your concept map as a guide)  Establishes structure you hope to follow through start to finish

Concept Map - Web

Sample Outline 1.0 Introduction  purpose: to show the function of GPS  background: satellites & radio navigation  scope: GPS with regards to construction & architecture  methodology: internet, periodical and library research, personal interview 2.0 Procedure and Findings  Overview of GPS  Satellites & receivers  Radio navigation system  How GPS works  Triangulation  Timing  Measuring  Current uses  Navigation  Mapping  Location 3.0 Conclusion 4.0 Recommendations

The Formal Report  Letter of Transmittal (optional)  Executive Summary  Acknowledgements (optional)  Table of Contents  List of Illustrations  Introduction  Procedure and Findings  Conclusions  Recommendations  References  Appendices (optional)

Letter of Transmittal  Optional  Introduces the document  Name and address of recipient of report  Information about what is being sent  Follow-up action expected of the reader  Offer of continued communication or clarification

Executive Summary  Very important part of the Technical Report  Condensed overview of the project  Identifies purpose, scope, methodology, recommendations, conclusions

Acknowledgements  Optional  Like a dedication  Thanks people or groups for support of and assistance with the project

Table of Contents LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS v 1.0 INTRODUCTION Purpose Background Scope Methodology PROCEDURE AND FINDINGS Global Positioning System How GPS works Triangulation Measuring Distance Current Uses of GPS CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS REFERENCES APPENDIX: Comparison of the Different GPS Products

List of Illustrations  Like a table of contents for graphics  Allows readers to access your graphics with ease Figure Page 1.GPS Satellite Hand Held Receivers GPS Orbits Homes with GPS Technology GPS Production

Documenting Illustrations Figure number above (Nichol & Pexman, Displaying your findings, 2003) Figure number and description below

1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose goal, problem 1.2 Background brief history of the purpose 1.3 Scope defines what is (and is not) part of the project 1.4 Methodology research methods used, how information was collected

2.0 Procedure & Findings  The body of the report  Facts and figures  Divided into second and third level headings

3.0 Conclusion  Solves the problem presented in the introduction by connecting to the data in the body  Suggested actions drawn from the conclusions 4.0 Recommendations

References  List of your sources  Printed  Electronic  Audiovisual  APA (American Psychological Association) format  Alphabetical order by author

References GPS gaining momentum. (1998, August 24). New York Times, p. 11. GPS Communications. (2001, July). Computer User, p Freeman, R. (1987). Radio navigation system design for architects. New York: Wiley. Global Positioning Systems. (2004). Retrieved October 26, 2004 from Webb, W. (1998). Understanding GPS. Boston: Artech House.

Appendices  Supplementary material to enhance the report  Interesting, but not essential

Writing the Rough Draft  Use your outline  Follow the technical report format  Goal is to get ideas down, worry about mechanics later

Editing the Rough Draft  If time allows, set it aside for a day or so.  Editing tools  Dictionary / spell check  Thesaurus  Grammar & punctuation handbook / grammar check  Red pen  An editor

Writing the Final Draft  Word processed is usually preferred  Pay attention to appearance  Read the paper out loud  Don’t forget to credit your sources  In text Citations, Reference page  Create a snappy title  Keep a backup copy

Plagiarism What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism includes…  Copying an entire paper and claiming it as your own  Copying part of a paper and claiming it as your own  Copying information from a source and passing it off as your own  Cutting and pasting from the web or any other electronic resource and passing it off as your own

What is Citing?  Citing is appropriate acknowledgement of all sources of information used in academic work  Leaving a “breadcrumb trail” of information used Why Cite?  To ensure the moral rights of the author/creator of a work (part of Copyright Act)  To avoid plagiarism

To Cite or Not to Cite ? (Harris, 2001, p. 155)

1.Quoting - the direct quotation of the words of others 2.Paraphrasing - putting someone else’s words or ideas in your own words 3.Reference List - details of information sources cited or paraphrased in your text or project Ways of Citing Sources

1. Quotations  Double quotation marks around short quotations (<40 words).  Longer quotations (>40 words) block indent and omit quotation marks.  Changing quotations, i.e., omitting text (…) or inserting text ([ ])

In Text Short Quotation (<40 words) “An honor code usually consists of a signed statement in which students promise not to cheat and not to tolerate those who do” (Harris, 2001, p. 117).

In text Long Quotation (>40 words) Athletes are searching for anything that will make them more competitive including nutritional supplements, such as vitamins, energy bars and drinks that may compensate for dietary deficiencies, and over-the-counter products like shark cartilage and amino acids, which purport to increase muscle mass, boost energy and endurance, prompt weight gain (or loss), or reduce recovery time between workouts (Jollimore, 2004, p. 54).

2. Paraphrasing  Restating the author’s ideas into your own words  Need to do more than just change a word or two

Paraphrase Example Original text: Admissions officers agree that whatever the topic, everything rests in the execution. They look for a thoughtful, revelatory essay that enhances the rest of a student’s application (Flora, 2004, p.24). Sample Paraphrase: A students’ application for admission is based on many things, one being a creative and unique essay (Flora, 2004, p.24).

3. Reference List  Acknowledges all the sources you have cited in your project  APA does not provide a citation format for images or figures. To cite an image, cite the publication in which the image appears.  Organized in alphabetical order  Strictly follows citation style format (APA, MLA... )

Reference List Rules to Remember 1.Only capitalize the FIRST letter of the title, proper nouns & first letter after a colon. 2.Authors’ names must be inverted, using only the first & middle initials. For more than one author use the “&” before the final name. 3.Indent each line after the first line.

4.Information from an aggregated database can be identified by the database name, the url is not necessary. 5.There is no period at the end of a website citation. 6.Personal communications are only cited in text, not in reference list.

References Anderson, D. (August 3, 2001). Statement by Environment Minister David Anderson on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved July 24, 2004, from Blicq, R. (2001). Guidelines for report writing. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada. Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (1995). The craft of research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Edwards, C., & Crockett, R. (2007, April 16). New Music Phones-- Without the i. Business Week, Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Academic Search Elite database. Harris, R. (2001). The plagiarism handbook. Los Angeles: Pyrczak. Jollimore, M. (June 21, 2004). Fuel’s gold: why Canada’s athletes pay so much attention to what they eat. Time, 163(25), Reitman, J. (2004). The Baghdad follies. Rolling Stone, 952/953,

Quoting: Biggs (2003)describes “deep learning as a need to engage” (p.16). Paraphrasing: The creation of personal meaning often indicates a deep approach to learning (Biggs, 2003, p.16). Reference List: Biggs, J. (2003). Teaching for quality learning at university. Berkshire, UK: Open University Press. Book Example Title Publication Info Author Date

Quoting: “Teaching is a reflective and informed act” (Trigwell & Shale, 2004, p.530). Paraphrasing: Any teaching model should include personal reflection (Trigwell & Shale, 2004, p.530). Reference List: Trigwell, K & Shale, S. (2004). Student learning and the scholarship of university teaching. Studies in Higher Education, 29(4), Journal Article Example Author(s)YearArticle Title Publication details and pagesJournal Title

Quoting: RMIT (2001) views “information literacy as a basis for lifelong learning” Paraphrasing: Information literacy is relevant for lifelong learning (RMIT, 2001). Reference List: RMIT University Library. (2001). Information RMIT. Retrieved July 14, 2005 from Web Resource Example Author(s)Date CreatedWebsite Title Website address Date Accessed

Tools to Use  For Everything  APA Style Guide  For Books   For print or electronic  

Anti Plagiarism Practice Can you spot the rule breakers?

Alboher, M. (2007). One Person/Multiple Careers. New York: Warner Business Books. Alboher, M. (2007). One person/multiple careers. New York: Warner Business Books. Rule to remember: In the title, only capitalize the first letter, proper nouns and/or first letter after a colon. All other letters must be lowercase.

CBC. (2000). Bones play key role in diabetes. Retrieved August, 11, 2007, from insulin.html. CBC. (2000). Bones play key role in diabetes. Retrieved August, 11, 2007, from insulin.html Rule to remember: No period at the end of a website.

Carol Ann Beck, Bob Sales. (2001). Family mediation: Facts, myths, and future prospects. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Beck, C. A., & Sales, B. (2001). Family mediation: Facts, myths, and future prospects. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Rule to remember: Authors’ names must be inverted, using only the first and middle initials. When there is more than one author, use the ampersand (&) before the final name.

Wiest, M. D. (2001). Toward a public mental health promotion and intervention system for youth. Journal of School Health, 71, Retrieved August 25, 2001, from ProQuest database. Rule to remember: Citations should be hanging paragraphs, indent every list after the first line.

Matheson, M. (2006, June 25). Personal communication. No citation needed. Rule to remember: Because they do not provide recoverable data, personal communications are not included in the reference list. Cite personal communications in text only.

Bradbury, Ray. (1988). Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books. Bradbury, R. (1988). Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books. Rule to remember: Author’s name must be inverted, using only the first and middle initials.

Edwards, C., & Crockett, R. (2007, April 16). New Music Phones--Without the i. Business Week, Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Academic Search Elite database. b=afh&AN= &site=ehost-live b=afh&AN= &site=ehost-live Edwards, C., & Crockett, R. (2007, April 16). New Music Phones--Without the i. Business Week, Retrieved August 10, 2007, from Academic Search Elite database. Rule to remember: If the information is retrieved from an aggregated database, providing the name of the database is sufficient; no address (URL) is needed.

2007 Holland College Library Services