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