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Explorations 160

Explorations 160. Research Paper Survival Workshop Holly Hendrigan Liaison Librarian, Explorations 8 March 2011. Today’s workshop. 1. Survey 2. Developing your topic 3. Finding background information (4. Using the catalogue to find books)

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Explorations 160

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  1. Explorations 160 Research Paper Survival Workshop Holly Hendrigan Liaison Librarian, Explorations 8 March 2011

  2. Today’s workshop 1. Survey 2. Developing your topic 3. Finding background information (4. Using the catalogue to find books) 5. Searching indexes to find periodical articles 6. Citing what you find

  3. Getting to know you • Topic survey • Public art • Pop Art • Oscar Wilde • Greek theatre • Who has spent some time on the EXPL 160 Research Guide? • Who is familiar with • Fast Search • MLA Bibliography • Art Full Text • Lexus Nexus • Web of Science

  4. Developing your topic • Pay very close attention to the words used in the essay topic • Identify the main concepts • Greek tragic theatre is often said to be “cathartic.”   Create an argument about the cathartic function of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex.   Use three scholarly sources, of which at least one makes reference to the social function of the theatre in Ancient Greece.

  5. Instructions re: form AND content • Form: • argument paper • 3 scholarly sources • Book, peer-reviewed journal article, academic film

  6. Argument paper • “An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.” (Purdue University Online Writing Lab)

  7. Research implications • You’re not just looking to support your point of view • You’re also looking to discuss the debate

  8. Content • Greek tragedy • Catharsis • Sophocles • Oedipus Rex • Social function of theatre

  9. Use Boolean logic AND : connects concepts Oedipus Rex AND catharsis • LIMITS your search OR : searches for additional related terms (Sophocles OR Greek theatre) • EXPANDS your search NOT : eliminates certain terms Oedipus NOTAntigone • TARGETS your search

  10. Putting it together In a perfect information world: Sophocles AND “oedipusrex” AND catharsis AND greek tragedy AND “social function of theatre” Would net you the “perfect article” from one source • In the imperfect information world we live in: researchers need to search different places, and synthesize results themselves

  11. Finding background information • Enables understanding of the assignment, the text, and criticism of the text • Eg, What’s catharsis? What is pop-art? What’s an “official” definition of a parody? • SFU Library Research guides: Background information

  12. Another format: Films on Demand “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” This assignment happens to be written, but your opinions can be informed via film (Might not be the heart of your argument, but will help provide context) Films on Demand: See “Background sources” in EXPL guide

  13. Using the catalogue • Tip: keyword searching is a blunt instrument • Keywords include the fields: author, title, subject, table of contents, notes. • Recall vs relevance: high recall (many titles) is usually at the expense of high relevance (useful titles)

  14. Keyword search: greek theatre social

  15. Using indexes • See: EXPL 160 Research Guides: Books and Articles • A journal is refereed or peer reviewed if its articles have been evaluated by experts before publication. The experts advise the journal's editor for or against publication of the articles. Peer review insures that the research described in a journal's articles is sound and of high quality.

  16. Database searching Academic Search Premier: multidisciplinary journal article database MLA International Bibliography Art Full Text

  17. Database search tips • Use subject terms or “Names as subject” functions • Eg. In MLA Bibliography: Oscar Wilde as keyword: 2148 • As “Names as subject”: 2081 • “Parody” as keyword: 3802 • “Parody” as subject: 3100 • (DE "Wilde, Oscar")  AND DE "parody“: 13 results. “Oscar Wilde, or, the Prehistory of Postmodern Parody” and “Wilde as Parodist: A Second Look at The Importance of Being Earnest” worth looking at.

  18. News sources (#1, especially) • Provide context and information • Use sparingly (not peer reviewed) • Sometimes, they’re all that is available • Sometimes, they lead you to experts who might have written something scholarly

  19. Notes re: citation • EXPL 160 research guide: provides links to the MLA citation guide • Also provides a links to how to write an annotated bibliography • We get asked all the time how to cite different sources, so don’t be shy!

  20. Summary 1. Developing your topic 2. Finding background information (3. Using the catalogue to find books) 4. Searching indexes to find articles 5. Peer reviewed journals6. Citing what you find

  21. Questions? More help • Me: hah1@sfu.ca • Surrey reference desk open 10-6 • Ask Us form on guide: phone, e-mail, chat

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