Essay 4 research start

Research – 144, iceberg

          Research log – 119

Sources -- sites

Books

 

Library Catalog: Use MHCC Library’s Library Catalog to find books, videos, DVDs and more available at the MHCC Library.  MHCC Library has over 50,000 books.  It offers introductory information on your topic.  Depending on your topic, the MHCC collection may not be adequate, in which case, you can utilize the other libraries.

 

MHCC and other libraries: This is the web-based unified library catalog of over 30 academic libraries in Washington and Oregon called the Orbis Cascade Alliance.  MHCC is a member of the Orbis Cascade Alliance, and thus you have access to more than 26 million books, DVDs, videotapes, sound recordings, government documents and more. 

 

Academic Journals (a.k.a. “scholarly” or “peer-reviewed” journals)

 

The word “journal” often makes people think of a kind of diary. However, academic journals are not diary-like in any way, instead presenting a focused examination of a discipline- specific topic. That is, they avoid the broad generalizations and oversimplified prose of magazines. In fact, journal articles are often difficult to read and understand---because they are written for other scholars or professionals in the field and are not necessarily intended to entertain (as most magazines and newspapers are).

 

            Why academic journals make the best sources:

 

• They are fact-checked and peer reviewed: Before the journal is printed, an editorial board reads the articles and makes sure experiments, data, opinions, test results, historical information, methods,  etc. are reputable
• They come from academic or professional institutions: The goal of such institutions is to inform rather than entertain or build readership for profit.
• They are less influenced by corporations because they are not dependent upon advertising to cover most of their costs. In fact, subscriptions to journals often cost thousands of dollars per year.
• The articles are carefully documented: This gives them credibility and also can give you hints at where else to look.
• They are reliable: since journal articles must pass the scrutiny of a board of editors, they contain less rumor, plagiarized material, and unverified fact.
   
• They are specific: Whereas magazine articles are often written for a broad range of readers= interests and reading levels, journal articles focus on very specific topics and go into great detail.
   
  Databases
  
  
  What is a library database?
   
  Library databases are a major tool available to you through the MHCC Library.  A database is an organized collection of information you can search.  Through the Library, you have online access to many databases.  Most of these databases index journal articles and some provide full text for these journal articles.  If full text is not available in the database you are searching, there are other methods for locating these articles.  There is not one single, comprehensive database you can use to find all of the information you need, but selecting the appropriate databases with information on your topic can make your research process much easier.
  
  
  Here is an article citation from the database Academic Search Premier:
  
   
  In order to properly cite this article, it is essential to know how to read this citation.  Here is an explanation:
  
  
  
   
  Article title: The Occurrence of Male-to-Female Intimate Partner Violence on Days of Men’s Drinking: The Moderating Effects of Antisocial Personality Disorder.
  Journal title: Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology
  Article authors:  William Fals-Stewart, Kenneth E. Leonard, and Gary R. Birchler
  Volume: 73           Issue: 2
  Date: April 2005
  Pages: 239-248, 10 pages long
  Abstract of the article is provided to help you evaluate the usefulness of this article for your research.
   
  What sources did you use?
   
  How much did you read before you decided to arrange your essay?
   
  What do opponents to your stance say?
   
  What historical information did you use?
   
  PAGE 146
   
  Primary and Secondary Sources
   
  Primary and secondary sources vary by academic discipline. Here’s an overview:
   

Science     Primary Sources     Notes, results of scientific experiments including methods and tools used.  Observations. Discoveries.	Secondary Sources   Discussion of and comments on the notes, results, observations, discoveries in professional and popular journals, newspapers, books.
Social Science/Political Science     Primary Sources     Field research studies, interviews, surveys, case studies, experiments, observations and notes of social workers, psychiatrists, researchers, academic research by governments, international bodies, interest groups, educational institutes, or private individuals.  Also public laws, international laws, treaties, precedents set by courts (in the US), case law (in other countries), constitutions, testimonials (such as the Truth and Reconciliation Hearings in South Africa), and all public records (national and international).	Secondary Sources   Discussion, evaluation and comments of the primary source findings in professional and popular journals, newspapers, books, papers at conferences.
Humanities     Primary Sources Novels, poems, readings, short stories, scripts, literary theories.	Secondary Sources   Reviews, interpretations and other comments on the original art work or performance.
Visual and Performing Arts     Primary Sources Paintings, illustrations, sculptures, graphics, drawings, films, plays, theater performances, videos, art and performing art theories.	Secondary Sources   Reviews, interpretations and other comments on the original art work, performance, theories.
Business     Primary Sources Annual reports, market research, stockholder reports, business models and paradigms, letters, memos, e-mail, government reports such as from the Dept. of Commerce, Council of Economic Advisors, Federal Reserve Bank, technical studies and reports, computer data.	Secondary Sources   Comments and discussion of the primary sources in newspapers, magazines, books, scholarly journals, business journals.

 

 

Conversation with sources:

 

Page 145, 166

 

“Conversation” and the Research Essay

• What is a conversation?
   
  It’s a spoken exchange, right?  Right. Look at the etymology (root) of the word conversation: vers. This means “turns,” as in “taking turns.” In spoken conversation, individual speakers (usually) have control over what they say—but not what the other person says. Speakers can often thoughtless by interjecting, blurting, rambling, avoiding, etc. Spoken conversation can be unpredictable and surprising . . . it can be an act of discovery.
   
• So what? What does conversation have to do with research?
   
  Research writing involves a kind conversation or dialogue. The same kind of dynamic—the act of discovery—that happens in spoken conversation can happen in a research piece. However, the conversation in a research piece is more formal than a spoken conversation. How? The kind of conversation that takes place in a research essay is carefully constructed and orchestrated.  The writer gets to decide who contributes, what is added, and when it appears; the writer has the control.
   
• How can a writer start a conversation with the sources?
   
  Before you can begin to incorporate all the outside sources you’ve found, you have to have a sense of the conversation that’s taking place in the academic world about your topic. Reading outside sources is a form of eavesdropping. Listen in on what others are saying about your topic. Then, when you have the guts, enter the conversation.
   
  Before you begin a conversation, engage these questions:
   

• Who are the experts on your topic?
• How contentious is the discussion? That is, what would happen if you put experts on your topic in a room together?
• Where do you stand in this academic discussion? With whom do you “side?” Are there even “sides?” Who makes sense to you . . . why?
   
  Summary:

• Brilliant as you are, remember to TAKE TURNS with experts on your topic.
• Don’t be spineless: Exchange with those who agree with you and those who disagree.
• Take responsibility for the outside sources you choose (Use signal phrases, in-text documentation, and a Works Cited page).
• Use strong verbs to introduce sources—verbs that show that you’ve thought about and reacted to the source, rather than having dropped in it. (Try, for example, to avoid inclusions such as these: “So-and-so writes . . . ” or “So-and-so states . . .” The following list of verbs can replace the predictable and not-so-useful italicized verbs: argues, defends, rejects, maintains, explains, infers, emphasizes, postulates, confirms, praises, proposes, implies, clarifies, diminishes, conflates, retorts, criticizes, cautions, declares, perceives, outlines, suggests, hypothesizes . . . .  and there are many more.    
   
  HW: Pages 142 -- 162