1 / 14

Research Essentials: Searching, Selecting, and Citing Credible Sources

Learn how to define your topic, search for sources, and cite accurately in this research guide. Discover valuable tips on selecting credible evidence and avoiding plagiarism.

aduane
Download Presentation

Research Essentials: Searching, Selecting, and Citing Credible Sources

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Introduction to Research How to search, select, and cite credible sources. Adapted from the original PowerPoint by Kristen Dembroski

  2. Research Steps • Define your topic – make sure it is broad enough to find information, but not so broad that you get overwhelmed. • Prepare a working bibliography – create a page on which to keep track of the info from each source that you need for your final Works Cited page. • Do some background reading on your topic and develop a thesis that reflects your purpose in doing the research and your attitude toward your topic. • Search for sources (evidence) and take accurate and workable notes.

  3. The Search for Information & Evidence • When searching the internet, use search terms that come directly from your main topic and your research questions. EXAMPLE: Topic: Smoking Research Questions: Is smoking harmful? Should it be banned? What are the current laws about smoking? Search Terms: smoking health smoking laws secondhand smoke studies on effects of smoking effects of smoking

  4. Searching for Evidence • When searching the internet, it’s tempting to just start clicking away on any result that pops up. But… • Keep in mind some companies pay to keep their results near the top of the list • Not all links are credible sources of information • When deciding what to click on, ask yourself these questions: • Is it on topic? • Is it credible (more on this later)?

  5. Choosing Evidence

  6. More about Choosing Evidence

  7. Strategic Searching • Not finding enough sources? Be strategic. • Use root words of key terms • Put exact phrases in “double quotation marks” • Remove search terms that are common but not helpful by using a minus sign • Example: smoking effects -cancer

  8. Finding Credible Sources • Stick with sources that are well-known and well-established. • Always know who created the website and why (read the About tab) • Look at the date of the information • Verify facts by cross-checking them with other reliable sites

  9. No Excuses • It is your job to read, sort through the information, and choose the best evidence to support your topic and fulfill your purpose of informing your audience.

  10. Next Steps… • Take accurate and workable notes IN YOUR OWN WORDS • Analyze your notes (and revise your thesis if necessary) • Create an outline • Write the rough draft

  11. Avoiding Plagiarism (aka Cite Your Sources) • Definition:Using other people’s words, thoughts, or ideas without giving them credit. • How to avoid it • Put EVERYTHING including your notes in your own words • Give credit to the author (this should be done sparingly – most of your work should be in your own words) • You must do this for ideas (summaries of opinions or thoughts) as well as direct quotes!!!!

  12. One more time: Plagiarism vs. Paraphrasing

  13. Example: Paraphrasing

  14. Last Steps… • Revise and edit • Prepare our final Works Cited page • MLA – Modern Language Association

More Related