Research Skills

1. Research Skills Academic Research and the Outline of a Research Paper

2. Information and Credibility • We are constantly surrounded by information, and it isn't always easy to know which sources to trust. • The increase of information is about 30% every year and about 7 million new websites are added daily. • Being able to evaluate the credibility of information is an important skill used in school, work, and day-to-day life. • With so much advertising, controversy, and blogging going on, how do you know what is credible and what is not?

3. The Need for Credibility • Scholarly research requires that your support and evidence come from professionallyedited, refereed (also called peer-reviewed) sources whether online, in print, or in multimedia. The sources must be reliable and credible.

4. Investigating a Topic • Keep in mind the meaning of reinresearch. The usual procedure is to look and look again and then look some more until you find the sources that suit your purpose.

5. Investigating a Topic • The best way to start your research is to follow librarydatabases which provide references to print and other media as well as full texts of selected articles. • Keep in mind that school,college or university library is more suitable than a public library, which is not intended to support scholarly higher education research even though it might have some useful resources.

6. Keeping Accurate Records for Documenting Sources • Scrupulous recordkeeping is essential for a developing a research project. The reason is that you can receive credit for your own work at the same time you credit others appropriately for theirs. • As soon as you begin the project, keep careful recordsof all sources consulted and recommended, including authors, titles, publishers, dates, and page numbers.

7. Keeping Accurate Records for Documenting Sources • Develop your working bibliography, which is a list of sources that sound promising whether or not you ever actually se them. Your final bibliography listing includes only the sources you actually reference (cite) in your paper and will be headed Works Cited. • Taking notes on all the necessary information as you conduct your research will help you document accurately and save you time later. A system of note cards remains one of the most efficient methods for keeping track of potentially useful information as you conduct research.

8. Keeping Accurate Records for Documenting Sources • Be sure full information about the sourceaccompanies any notes you take. You must be faithful to the meaning and context of the original source so that you do not distort the intention or significance of the original. • In your notes as in your final paper, use summary, paraphrase, quotation, and combinations correctly.

9. Keeping Accurate Records for Documenting Source • When you do quote, be sure to quote accurately. Place clearly in double quotation marks the entire section. Remember that these marks are the only way you'll know whether the information in your notes is a direct quotation. • If you feel it necessary to quote portions of the original, leaving out words and phrases, use ellipsis points/marks (…)to signal omissions.

10. Keeping Accurate Records for Documenting Sources • Become familiar with the required documentation standards (MLA for BGA) so you'll know what kinds of information you'll be expected to document in your Works Cited listing, where you will be required to list vital information about sources.

11. Evaluating Sources • Critical evaluationof all potential sources is an important part of the research process. • Seek material that is • up-to-date, • authors and investigators whose credentials are appropriate and reliable, and • publishers whose reputations indicate fairness and accuracy.

12. Evaluating Sources Web Resources and Online Databases • Web resources require special attention because anybody can publish Web pages. Therefore, do not depend on general search engines such as google or yahoo to locate sources that would be considered acceptable for academic research projects. • Using your school online databases will help you find appropriate refereed online sources. • To determine whether a Website is hosted by a college or university or educational organization, move backwards through the Web address until you reach the institution's homepage. Most accredited academic Websites have as their root an address that ends edu

13. Evaluating Sources Unacceptable Resources • The following sources usually are usually not acceptable for academic research projects: • summary books like the Magill series, and Cliffs and Spark Notes in print and online • papers composed by other undergraduate and master's degree students because students are novice scholars learning to be expert scholars and do not yet have credentials or refereed publications • most general magazines except when assigned or approved by your teacher • Websites like Wikipedia, Ask how and so on • Become familiar with and committed to your obligations for Academic Integrity so that you can receive credit for your own work at the same time you credit others appropriately for theirs.

14. Plagiarism • The availability of textual material in electronic format has made plagiarism easier than ever.  • Copying and pasting of paragraphs or even entire essays now can be performed with just a few mouse clicks. 

15. Plagiarism Why students cheat • Many students simply do not know what plagiarism is. Their awareness, if any, often derives from urban legends and myths ("Everything on the Internet is public domain and can be copied without citation"). • Students are natural economizers.  Many students are interested in the shortest route possible through a course.  • Students are faced with too many choices, so they put off low priorities.  • Many students have poor time management and planning skills.  • Some students fear that their writing ability is inadequate. This is sometimes called "cheat to compete.” • A few students like the thrill of rule breaking.  The more angrily one condemns plagiarism, the more they can hardly wait to do it. 

16. Plagiarism Educate yourself about plagiarism • Plagiarism on research papers takes many forms.  Some of the most common include these: • Downloading a free research paper.  Many of these papers have been written and shared by other students.  • Buying a paper from a commercial paper mill.  These papers can be good--and sometimes they are too good.  • Copying an article from the Web or an online or electronic database.  • Copying a paper from a local source.  Papers may be copied from students who have taken your course previously, from fraternity files, or from other paper-sharing sources near campus.  • Cutting and pasting to create a paper from several sources.  These "assembly-kit" papers are often betrayed by wide variations in tone, diction, and citation style.  • Faking a citation.  In lieu of real research, some students will make up quotations and supply fake citations.  The fake citation can be either completely fabricated or it can reference a real source (book, journal, or Web site) which contains no such article or words that have supposedly been used.

17. Plagiarism Why is plagiarism wrong ? • Plagiarism is a combination of stealing (another's words) and lying (claiming implicitly that the words are the student's own).  • Think about who is really being cheated when someone plagiarizes.  Copying papers or even parts of papers short circuits a number of learning experiences and opportunities for the development of skills.  All this is missed when the paper is faked, and it is these missed skills which will be of high value in the working world. 

18. Plagiarism The benefits of citing sources • Many students do not seem to realize that whenever they cite a source, they are strengthening their writing. Citing a source, whether paraphrased or quoted, reveals that they have performed research work and synthesized the findings into their own argument. • Using sources shows that the student is engaged in "the great conversation," the world of ideas, and that the student is aware of other thinkers' positions on the topic. • Appropriate quoting and citing also evidences the student's respect for the creators of ideas and arguments--honoring thinkers and their intellectual property. 

19. Research skills • 1. Collect sources • Identify where to find sources – library, interviews • Identify type of sources – book, articles, electronic sources • Determine credibility of sources – authority, accuracy • Complete working bibliography – organize it in an alphabetical order • 2. Take notes • Write down all the key information • Record page numbers, quotes you want to include • 3. Outline • Organize your note into a logical sequence • Delete irrelevant information • Identify where you are going to insert quotes and other data • 4. Write first draft • Flesh out your outline • 5. Edit • Add, eliminate, rearrange material • 6. Write second (or final draft)

20. Structure of a research paper • Introduction • Introduce the subject • Describe the purpose of the paper • What do you hope to accomplish • Body of the Paper • Define the subject • Describe the ethical controversy and how does the contemporary culture view this topic • Name the ethical and legal questions (consider medial, political questions) • Present the position of the Church on this particular subject • Research and quote the Scriptures for any passages that may apply • Research and quote what the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” has to say about the subject • Research and quote Church Documents, Papal Encyclicals, and Pastoral letters especially from the USCCB. • How does your topic both agree with and/or contradict Catholic Social Teaching • What is the contrary opinion, present opposite points of view • What is your opinion, express your personal thoughts • Conclusion • Summarize the paper • What have you learned as the result of the research

21. Structure of a research paper (World Religions) Introduction Introduce the subject Describe the purpose of the paper What do you hope to accomplish in this writing 2. Body of paper Define the subject of your research Origin and history of this religious movement Main beliefs, sacred writings, books Rituals and practices Holy days and main celebrations Demographics (US and worldwide) and the future of this religious movement 3. Conclusion Summarize the paper What you have learned as a result of this research

22. Research Abortion - history in the US, the rest of the world, legal problems, ethical problems, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Euthanasia– in the US, in the rest of the world, legal questions, ethical problems, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Reproductive technologies, stem cell and cloning - medical questions, ethical problems, legal problems, current laws in US and the rest of the world, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Human sexuality – medical and psychological questions, the “dangers” of sexual relationships, “playboy” mentality, pornography, rape, sexual abuse, Christian teaching about sex, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Homosexuality– medical and psychological questions, ethical problems, legal problems, gay marriage, current laws in US and the rest of the world, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Capital punishment (death penalty) - history US, the rest of the world, DNA tests – sentencing of innocent people, legal problems, ethical problems, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas War and Peace – violence, idea of just-war, nuclear weapon, WMD, legal problems, ethical problems, Geneva Convention, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas   Social Justice – fairness in society, poverty, education, common goods, charity vs. justice, social discrimination – racism, sexism, classism, ageism, discrimination in workplace legal problems, ethical problems, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Gun control – US constitution, crime and violence, current laws in US and the rest of the world, ethical problems, the teaching of the church, opposite points of view, personal thoughts and ideas Modern slavery – labor camps, sweatshops, child labor human trafficking, sex truism, the teaching of the church, legal problems, ethical problems, personal thoughts and ideas Doping in sport – fair competition, the involvement of big money, medical advancement, health risk, legal problems, ethical problems, opposite point of view, personal thoughts and ideas