RESEARCH SKILLS Research Process

Big 6 Research Process Define your topic Identify sources Locate sources Analyze Information Synthesize Information Evaluate your work **Not A Linear Process

Define your topic Topic Sentence: The Oklahoma City Bombing changed the idea of terrorism by introducing the act of ‘domestic terrorism’ to the United States. Keywords from your statement: –Oklahoma City Bombing (aka “Alfred P. Murrah Building”) –Terrorism –Domestic Terrorism (aka “Homegrown Terrorism”) –United States and Terrorism

DEFINE YOUR TOPIC Spend ample time on first step in order to formulate a good research question Pre-research –Check reference resources (encyclopedias, almanacs, etc.) –Provides a good foundation upon which to build Well begun is half done!

IDENTIFY SOURCES Step 2 aligns with personal pathfinders –What do I need? Books - reference and non-fiction Databases – subject-specific or general Websites – academic-approved search engines **Depending on your topic, you also might go to museums, historical societies, presidential libraries or use speeches, government documents, etc. (i.e. “underground railroad”)

LOCATE SOURCES –Where can I find this information? –Books: Notre Dame Library (library catalog) Public Library (online library catalog) –DATABASES: Notre Dame Library Website –WEBSITES: Nettrekker (educator-approved) WebPath Express in Library Catalog

ANALYZE VS. SYNTHESIZE Read what others have to say Direct Quote Paraphrase –Organize this information –Now, what do you have to say? Original Thought

EVALUATION Evaluation is a type of self-assessment –Conducted before and after turning assignment in. Before Did I support my thesis statement? Have I proofread my work? Have I checked it against the Rubric? After What could I have done better? What would I do different if I did it again?