Research+process

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Recipe for Research A 9-Step Process for Acquiring and Organizing Information for Your Research Assignment

**BEFORE YOU START **


 * 1) WRITE A TOPIC OVERVIEW

· What do you **already know** about your topic? Write it down. All of it. This will give you a place to begin and an idea of how much work is ahead of you.


 * 1) DEFINE YOUR TASK(S)


 * What are the **requirements** of the project? In other words, what are the necessary **ingredients** for you to achieve success? Examples may include one or more of the following:

A. Fact Finding (gathering and presenting information) B. Information Analysis (examining, interpreting and explaining information) C. Persuasion (influencing your audience to view information as you do) D. Problem Solving (presenting information about a crisis and its resolution)


 * 1) FORMULATE QUESTIONS


 * Make a list of research questions that will give your project **direction**.

**Example: **What are the primary causes of **global warming**?

A. Use your questions to make a list of **keywords**. These can be used later when you start your research, especially with online resources. **Note:** Use your key words to make a list of **synonyms** as well as related, broader, and narrower search terms.

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Example: **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">The key word or term in the example question is **global warming**. A synonym would be **greenhouse effect** and a related term might be **ozone depletion.**


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">SET GOALS


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Keeping your tasks and questions in mind, determine what you hope to **accomplish** with your project or paper.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 117pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A. What do you want your audience to learn from the information you are presenting? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 117pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">B. What is the best way to present that information?


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Using your keywords and research questions, develop a **thesis statement**. You will refer back to this statement throughout the process of completing your project.

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Example: **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">A study of global warming shows that the causes are both naturally occurring and man-made.

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif';">RESEARCH **


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">SELECT YOUR RESOURCES


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Figure out **which materials** are going to work best for your project. Options include: Online research databases like those offered by EBSCO (//MAS Ultra, History Reference Center, Science Reference Center//) as well as books, reference books, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers, audio and video files and search engines.

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Note: **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> EBSCO databases include **all** of the resource options covered above except for search engines. Ask your librarian for **login information** or, if you know your User ID and Password, go to [|http://search.ebscohost.com].


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Determine the **pros and cons** of your resource choices.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">i. Which include the most information? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">ii. Which are the most accurate? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">iii. Which are easiest to use? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; tabstops: list 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">iv. Which are fastest?

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Example: **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Search engines are fairly simple to use, but results often lack accuracy and finding reputable sources can be difficult and time consuming.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">GATHER INFORMATION


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Read, watch and/or listen to **everything** you’ve collected.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">EVALUATE YOUR INFORMATION


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">This is the time to **make sure** your information meets the requirements you defined in steps 2 through 4.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 117pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">A. Will it help you to complete your tasks? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 117pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">B. Does your research answer all or most of your questions? <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 117pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; tabstops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">C. Will your research allow you to attain your goals and __prove__ the points in your thesis statement?

**<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Note: **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” you may need to do more research, review your information to find more answers, or weed out information that will not be helpful.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">COORDINATE YOUR INFORMATION


 * **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Organize **<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> and repackage your information in an outline.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Write a rough draft.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Ask someone you trust to help edit your draft. A second pair of eyes is invaluable.


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">PRODUCE YOUR FINAL PRODUCT


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in;">Whether the final product is a research paper, editorial, dramatic presentation, audio/video production, art project, oral report, debate or any other project, if you **carefully** followed steps 1 through 8, you have already improved your odds of success!

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">For more helpful information regarding research, visit ** [|www.ebscohost.com/success_center] **