AN Introduction to Research

1. Abinav Kumar Stephen F. Austin High School AN Introduction to Research

2. The Purposes of LD Research • The purpose of doing research for Lincoln Douglas debate is two-fold: • Background/context/depth • Just general knowledge • You don’t want to come across as stupid in round, so this is vital to coming across as intelligent • Specific arguments and evidence • Case Arguments • Answers to other arguments (A/2’s or AT’s)

3. Getting Started • Brainstorm key words and ideas • Use Briefs as a starting point. DO NOT USE THEM FOR EVIDENCE!!! • The “gateway article” • Use Wikipedia to start • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Resource_extraction • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_protection

4. What search sites should I use? • http://scholar.google.com/ • http://web.scarsdaleschools.org/hslib/ • Go to “SHS AT HOME ACCESS” up at top • User: jvaughn • Pass: physics • http://www.baylor.edu/lib/index.php?id=28865 • User: Libraryguest • Pass: Libraryguest

5. How to Save Articles • If you found a possibly useful PDF, save the document • If you found a possibly useful article, save it as a PDF • When you save articles, do not read them, just look for sources and save. You can read later. • When Researching: • Save the articles in one folder, don’t try to organize yet • Save the link to the file/article on a word document, and that document into the same folder. • Save link like this:[Author’s Last Name/Organizations Name/Website’s Name] Article TitlePaste Link Here • Rename the file like this:[Author’s Last Name/Organizations Name/Website’s Name] Article Title

6. Examples

7. Where next? • Skim the Evidence • If there is an abstract, read that • If there is no abstract, read the first paragraph and the last paragraph • [Ctrl + F] for key terms • Lastly, go through and skim the article • Or learn to speed read (Don’t do this in school) • Do this to see if you can cut a good card, if the article is useless, move it to another folder incase you need it later, do not delete it.

8. A good card • A good card/argument consists of: • Claim: • The statement the card makes, its main idea • Typically what your tagline will say • The support argument to your Value Criterion • Warrant: • The “Why?” Or “How?” of a card • Explains your claim, and supports it with evidence • Impact: • “Impact Calculus” • The significance of your card • Why you card will have an IMPACT in the round

9. Cutting/Carding Articles • Once you determine that you can use a portion of the article in your case you need to Cut/Card the section • Cutting/Carding – This is making the evidence readable in round.

10. Formatting • Tagline • Keep it short, less than 8 words preferably • Sums up evidence easily • Bold, Times New Roman, 14 Point Font • Citation • Name of Author, Author Qualifications, Date, “Article Name”, Publisher, Link • Author’s Last Name and Date: Bold, Times New Roman, 12 Point Font • Everything Else: Times New Roman, 6 Point Font • Cut Evidence • What you will read: Bold, Underlined, Times New Roman, 12 Point Font • Everything Else: Times New Roman, 6 Point Font • General Formatting • Single Spaced • Remove Space Before and After Paragraphs • 1 Space between each of the 3 parts

11. A card! Citation w/ Last name and Date Bolded Tagline **Note: The text you read is bolded and in a bigger font, while the text you won’t read is smaller and not bolded. This allows you to read a piece of evidence uninterrupted.

12. Back Files • These are just compilations of Cards • Copy/Paste your cards into one word document make a “super file” • Organize them by placing them under headings like AFFIRMATIVE or NEGATIVE, and the subdividing from there • Headings should be: Centered, Bold, Underlined, Times New Roman, 28 point font • Sub-Headings Should be:Centered, Bold, Times New Roman, 20 point font