1. Introduction to Research
English 99.2
Introduction to Research

2. Introduction
For your synthesis essays, you’ll need to make use of the three articles in the Post-Conviction DNA Testing section of the Prose Reader. In addition, you’ll need to find one additional source to use in support of your stance on this issue

3. Types of Sources
There are several types of sources available to you at CSUB.
We’ll focus on periodicals.
Periodicals are sources that come out periodically. Here are some examples
Magazines
Newspapers
Journals

4. Evaluating Sources
When looking for sources to use as research for an academic assignment, you want to find sources that are credible and reputable. This will help you establish your ethos.

5. newspapers Newspapers are written for a general audience.
They generally give an overview of the issue (including what makes it newsworthy) in terms that most people can understand. They often don’t get very in-depth about the issue or cite the sources where their information came from

6. Magazines
Magazines are aimed at the general public. They are designed mainly to entertain. Their articles are typically written by magazine staff rather than experts in the field. They are aimed at the general public.

7. Scholarly Journals
Journals are different from magazines and newspapers.
While newspapers and magazines are aimed at making profit, journals aim to further knowledge in a particular field.
While newspapers and magazines are aimed at general audiences, journals are aimed at other professionals in the field.
While newspapers and magazines can publish information without being “vetted,” scholarly journal articles are often peer reviewed.

8. Scholarly Journals Cont’d
For our assignment, you’ll want to find a scholarly journal article in support of your position on the issue of post conviction DNA testing.

9. Buyer Beware… Many of you will be asking, “Why not just google it?”
Information on the internet is plentiful and often incorrect.
You need to be able to carefully evaluate websites for accuracy of information and credibility before you ever cite one in a paper.
For our assignment, no internet sources are allowed.

10. Finding Sources
You can find scholarly journal articles at no cost to you on our library’s website. I’ll show you how.