Resarch Paper Part I: Conducting Research

Here students will find instructions for researching their papers.

Research papers in composition require four kinds of sources:

Source One: Books

1) Goto: www.OhioLink.edu

2)  From the list of “Quick Links” on the right side of the page click: OhioLINK Library Catalog.

3) Consider using the Classic Catalog and begin with a keyword search.

Source Two: Journal Articles

This is the most time-consuming part of the research process because it is necessary for students to look through a large number of articles in order to come up with articles that are relevant to the subject of the paper.  To find these articles, follow these steps:

1) Goto: www.OhioLink.edu

2) From the list of “Quick Links” on the right side of the page click: “Research Databases”.

3) After the page opens, use the drop-down menu to select “Belmont College”.
4) You have two options.  Click the first option under Belmont College where it says “Click Here”.

5) You might have to sign in (twice).  Use your name and library card barcode. 
6) You are now in the A-Z Databases List.  Choose the first database on the list, click “Academic Search Complete”.

7) Articles Part I: OK, this is where the legwork begins.  Type your research paper subject into the search window at the top of the page.  As you go through this process, it will probably be necessary to modify your search term(s).  Say you are doing a paper on a trip to Australia, the possible search terms for this subject could be: Australia, Australia Travel, Australia Outback, Australia Hotels, Australia Scuba Diving, Great Barrier Reef, Australia National Geographic, and so on. 

8) Articles Part II: Look at the page.  At the top, you will see the number of articles were found that go with your search term.  Look at the publication information for each article.  What is the title of the article? What is the title of the journal? What is the date—how recent is the article? Look at the buttons below the entry.  Some articles can be downloaded as an HTML file (text only) or as a PDF text (complete article as it appears in the journal with pictures, if there are any).

9) Articles Part III: Select an article. Once you open the page you can look more closely at the information the article contains.  Is it a good article with useful information, and is it reliable?  Is there possible bias? Go ahead and look at the article and ask these questions again.
10) If you like the article, then download it.  Look on the right side of the screen and select one of the buttons and select how you want to save the article.  You can download the article, send the article to your email, save the link to the article, and so on.

Source Three: Encyclopedia Articles

1) Goto Encyclopaedia Britannica on-line and look up your subject. Type your search terms into the window, and you are on your way.   Keep in mind there also are specialized encyclopedias available on-line.  As always, be careful about your sources. Exercise scrutiny—investigate your sources—and a healthy dose of skepticism (see below).

Source Four: Websites

First question first: “Is Wikipedia OK?”   Short answer: “Yes, but be careful!”  Long answer:  Wikipedia is a sprawling project with many editors (people who can go into Wikipedia and post articles and modify those articles). In some cases, corporations, governments, bureaucracies, politicians, universities, think tanks and celebrities hire people to go into Wikipedia to change the articles to make the corporations, governments, bureaucracies, politicians, universities, think tanks and celebrities look good. If the subject is controversial—vaccines, abortion, radical political activists, climate change, etc.—then you have to be very careful.  If the subject is not very controversial—the article on “Pythagoras”, for example—you can be a little more confident that the article is factual. Wikipedia is chiefly useful for the list of works cited, the footnotes, and the list of internet links found at the bottom of the article. As with any website, you should be skeptical, and you should look for verification of anything you are skeptical about in the other sources you are using.  And you can never be too skeptical!

Second Question: “How do I begin my search?” Answer: Usually, people use G**gle, but there are other search engines, like Bing, Start Page (Start Page protects your search history from prying eyes), Yahoo, etc.  The problem with G**gle is the company stores your search information and puts it in the file they are keeping on you.  They use your file and sell your information to companies who use the information to target you with advertising. Also, G**gle sells the information to dictatorships like Communist China, which uses the information gathered about Chinese citizens to monitor and control society. 

Third Question: “How do I know I can trust the information on a website?”  Short answer: “You cannot be too careful.”  Long answer: “Identify the sponsor of the website.  What are their motivations?  Where is the money coming from (who sponsors the website)? What do I know from my other research—does the website agree with what I have learned elsewhere? Of course, you should think about these questions when assessing and evaluating any information. Even the information that comes from your instructors in college!  Ha! And welcome to our civilization.


What’s Next? 

Get busy with this research! If you are in Composition I, a brief email (clearly written and properly formatted) is due Tuesday, April 7 by Noon.  In your email, students will report on how the search for sources has gone.  By April 7, students should have gathered ALL of their sources--of course students can add sources as they make progress on their papers. 

As always, if you have any problems, email your instructor.

Research Paper Part II: From the Assignment to the Topical Outline

When students receive an essay assignment—on a test, on an examination, or for a class term paper—they should look carefully at the wording of the question or the assignment. In the language of the assignment, students will find key words that can help them to prepare a topical outline.

Let’s take the assignment for the Comp I and II research papers, and look for these key words.
 

The assignment for the first option reads as follows:

Write a research paper on a trip you would like to take.  Describe your destination. Why you would like to go there?  How would you get there? What would you do there? Where would you stay? Your paper should describe a wide range of issues including geography, history, politics, recreation, and transportation, among others.  Discuss what other people have written about the place.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Note: Reports on Disneyland, Disneyworld, amusement parks and cruise ships will not be accepted.  Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here is the assignment with key words in bold:

Write a research paper on a trip you would like to take.  Describe your destination. Why you would like to go there?  How would you get there? What would you do there? Where would you stay? Your paper should describe a wide range of issues including geography, history, politics, recreation, and transportation, among others.  Discuss what other people have written about the place.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Note: Reports on Disneyland, Disneyworld, amusement parks and cruise ships will not be accepted.  Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here are the key words listed with words (in parenthesis) that should come to mind as you think about the list:

Describe (name) your destination. (Thesis.)

Why? (Reasons what you want to visit your destination—could be used for main points in your introduction.)

How? (How will you get there, how will you get around?)

What? (What will you do there?)

Where? (Where will you go when you get there?  Where will you stay?)

Geography (Geography of your destination.  Does this fit into why you chose your destination?)

History (History of your destination. Does this fit into why you chose your destination?)

Politics (What do travelers need to know who are going to this destination? Laws, visas, vaccines, crime rates, etc.)

Recreation (What will you do when you are there?  Museums, beaches, sightseeing, shopping,  restaurants and dining, etc.

Transportation (How will you get there, and how will you get around when you are there?: trains, airplanes, car rentals…)

Next, take the key words and make a topical outline that you should fellow as you write your paper:

I Introduction

A Create Interest: Talk about travel in general? Your past travel?

B Thesis: your destination.

C Main Points:  reasons you want to go there? List three or four reasons only.

II Geography

III History

IV Politics, what travelers need to know.

V How will you get there and how will you get around?

VI Lodging: where will you stay?

VII Activity One

VII Activity Two

VIII Activity Three

IX Activity Four

X Activity Five

XI Conclusion
A Thesis: your destination.

B Main Points:  reasons you want to go there? List three or four reasons only.

C What’s Next:  when can you take this trip?

D Closure

The assignment for the second option reads as follows:

Write a research paper on a current event or issue.  Describe the significance of the event or issue, place it in its historical context, and examine the causes and effects surrounding it.  What have different people said about the significance of the event or issue?  Describe and explain your perspective, opinion, and understanding of the event or issue.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here is the assignment with key words in bold:

Write a research paper on a current event or issue.  Describe the significance of the event or issue, place it in its historical context, and examine the causes and effects surrounding it.  What have different people said about the significance of the event or issue?  Describe and explain your perspective, opinion, and understanding of the event or issue.  The paper must include a works cited page using MLA or APA citation format. Your Works Cited Page comes after the five- or six-page essay, and is part of the file. Use Purdue Owl to format your in-text citations and your Works Cited page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Here are the key words listed with words (in parenthesis) that should come to mind as you think about the list:

Current event or issue (Thesis, subject of your paper.)

Significance (Main points)

Historical context (History of your subject.)

Causes (What led to the issue/event/subject/controversy, etc.)

Effects (How has the issue/event effected people, and so on.)

What have different people said (Significant figures like politicians, journalists, academic researchers, and so on.  Here you have space for research, but of course your research belongs in all your paragraphs. The significant thing here are the conclusions or perspectives of various people.)

Your perspective (What do you think of the issue event?  You should say this at the end of most of your body paragraphs, but here is your over-all assessment of the issue/event/your subject.)

Next, take the key words and make a topical outline that you should fellow as you write your paper. Keep in mind, the following outline is very “generic.”  Your outline should be carefully modified to fit your subject:

I Introduction

A Create Interest: Background information. Talk about the issue in very general terms.

B Thesis: The subject of your paper.

C Main Points: why is your subject significant?  List three or four reasons only.

II History, part I

III History, part II

IV Causes.

V Effects.

VI What are people concluding about the issue?

VII What is your perspective/assessment/what have you learned or uncovered?

VIII Conclusion
A Thesis: The subject of your paper.

B Main Points:  Main Points: why is your subject significant?  List three or four reasons only.

C What’s Next:  Final observations or recommendations?

D Closure

Research Paper Part III: The Importance of Documentation

In our civilization, our ability to develop and advance knowledge has created wonderful benefits: 1) On-going advancements in medicine, vaccines, the relief of pain, cures for debilitating conditions and diseases, and improvements upon the quality of life... 2) The generation and distribution if wealth, goods and services...  3) Unprecedented freedoms, liberty and safety... 4) A well-evolved legal system that, despite its shortcomings, is remarkably fair, effective, humane, and beneficial... 5) An extraordinary heritage of culture as represented through our arts, music, literature, theater and architecture, and in our many enlightened religious societies that advance wisdom, tolerance and patience, and so serve to enrich the lives of our people, promote beneficial cooperation, and advance the pubic peace. All of these advancements are in no small part due to our respect for the process of creating knowledge, and our appreciation for the proprietary character of our knowledge.

More specifically, the proper documentation of sources is important for these three reasons:

1) Verification.
2) The promotion of knowledge.
3) Rewarding people for their work.

1) Verification

When scientists and scholars conduct experiments and research, they fully-document their reports and publications in order to provide materials that will support other scientists and scholars who will review that work and assess it for its value, accuracy and veracity.

2) The Promotion of Knowledge

When scientists and scholars conduct experiments and research, they fully-document their reports and publications, so that other scientists and researchers can build upon their work and produce additional knowledge. Our knowledge is built upon the knowledge that came before.  We build on other peoples' work and so create new advancements and new knowledge. Indeed, this process is the essence of our progress.

3) Rewarding People for their Work

In order to motivate people to create knowledge, we must properly acknowledge their work and reward them for their effort.  If people are not rewarded for the knowledge they create, or if the ownership of their work is not protected, then people will not be motivated to create new knowledge.  In universities, scientists and scholars are rewarded for their work through salaries and promotions.  In medicine, industry, and the arts, scientists, scholars and producers are rewarded through their salaries, patents, royalties, and copyrights. The process of documenting sources properly acknowledges the work that people do, and supports the systems that rewards people for their work.

What this means for students: For all these reasons, proper documentation is very important, and therefore every person who is educated in our society is taught the fundamentals of research and documentation. By teaching the methods of proper research, students are empowered because they know something about where knowledge--new procedures, products, instructions, protocols, statutes, laws, rules and regulations, opinions, fake news, falsehoods, and lies--come from.  We are as prosperous as we are because we know the fundamentals of how we create, manage, evaluate, assess, and respect knowledge.

According to the syllabus, the college has a very clear policy regarding plagiarism. The policy is as follows:

Academic Misconduct: The responsibility for academic honesty rests with the student. The College expects the student to submit papers, projects, and reports resulting from the student’s own efforts. Work submitted in any form should reflect the exclusive effort of the student. It is assumed that mature learners do not practice cheating on quizzes, tests, or examinations. Plagiarism will not be tolerated at any time. Submitting another’s work as one’s own, in part or in whole, is a dishonest practice. A student may not appropriate another person’s ideas, whether published or not. Consequences for proven cases of dishonest practices may include:

a.       Zero percent being given for the test, examination, report, quiz, paper, project, or any other course requirement on which the cheating has occurred; or

b.       Failure for the course in which the offense occurred; or

c.       Dismissal from the College.

In a few days, we will review formatting instructions for the works cited page and the in-text citations that will be part of your paper.  In preparation for that review, please familiarize yourself with MLA citation format at Purdue Owl.  Please click HERE.