Topic selection

To Consider

The expectation is the you will produce an original piece of writing.

Avoid topics you investigated last year.

Don’t select a topic that you may want to cover during Senior Project

Be creative in your topic and development of an argument

Address Multiple Points of View

6 full pages in length

Cite 6 sources

THE RESEARCH PROCESS: AN OVERVIEW

Where to Begin

Create a rough outline of some ideas you think your paper might cover

Try to get some “common knowledge” or basic understanding of your subject

How Should I Search?

Use a variety of search termsUse “not” “and,” and “or” to help narrow your search.

Use a variety of search engines Google, Dogpile, AltaVista

DON’Ts and DO’s

Encyclopedia's DON’T count as a source and should NOT be used. (This includes WIKIPEDIA!!!! )

Don’t use personal blogs, or websites that don’t have a person or organization that you can verify.

You DO need at least 4 types of sourcesBooksMagazines/JournalsInternet

InterviewsTV/VideoNewspaper

EBSCO

Subscription database for ALL types of source

http://trial.ebscohost.comUsername: losaltosPassword: trial

*We have this until the end of March, Email Documents to yourself.

Citing EBSCO Sources

Pilger, John. “Why the Oscars are a Con.” New Statesman 15 February 2010: 20. EBSCO. Los Altos High School Library, Hacienda Heights, CA. 8 March 2010 <http://web. ebscohost.com/>.

Starting the Source Card and Note Card Process

1. Determine the usefulness of a particular resource

Does it include information you don’t have already?

Is the information coming from a trustworthy source?

Evaluating Internet Sites

Use the most academic and scholar-like sources University Non-Profit

Organization Government

Website Reputable

Company

Beware of tildes (~)! These often indicate that the host is not monitoring/verifying the site

Starting the Source Card and Note Card Process

2. Create a source card for the resource

Put source information in MLA format as it will appear on your Works Cited page. Be sure to collect all information!

WEB SITES

Author. “Title.” Website. Date of Revision. Sponsoring Organization. Date of Access <URL>.

Give as much information as the website provides.

SAMPLE SOURCE CARD

Moen, Bruce. “How Do You Know It’s Real?” Afterlife Knowledge. 16 Oct. 2002 <http://www.afterlife-knowledge.com/index.html>.

How Do I Cite Other Sources?

See the guidelines on Weebly. Give as much information as is available.

If the source was published in print and online you MUST give BOTH sets of information (Find Articles/ Google books)

Starting Note Card Process

3. Create individual note cards for that source

Only one piece of information per card

Create a system for organizing your note cards and linking them with the source (Author’s last name, Letter, Color)

Starting Note Card Process

Put information in your own words or put in “QUOTES” so that you remember to paraphrase it later.

Sample Piece of Information“Two episodes pushed Spitz toward his journey. The first occurred at a congregant’s funeral. During the graveside service, Spitz was horrified because he called the widow by the wrong name. He rushed to apologize, but she said she was thrilled because the name he had used was her late husband’s nickname for her.”

Sample Note CardPersonal ExperiencesAlgerRabbi Elie Spitz believes in life after death because of experiences he has had. The first occurred when he accidentally called a congregant’s widow by the wrong name, only to discover that he had used the deceased husband’s nickname for her.

Sample Rough Outline

Topic:1. Background information

2. Establish controversy, explain the multiple points of view.

3. Different people’s experiences – American public, experts, various stakeholders

4. Facts and evidence related to the topic

Homework, Due Monday, 3/151. Come up with a viable topic and

complete the Topic Proposal Form

2. Look on Ebsco for your first sources. Print at least one document from Ebsco and bring to class on Monday.

3. On a note card develop a rough research outline

Brainstorm – American History PEOPLE

PLACES

EVENTS

Technology Health/Science Culture Environment Entertainment Sports Politics International

Relations Domestic Policy