Research+Strategies+2

=**Information here based on:**= =//**Research Strategies: Finding Your Way through the Information Fog by William B. Badke**//= =//**Teaching Information Literacy: a Conceptual Approach by Christy Gavin**//=

**2.1 Wrestling with a Topic**
writing the research paper on a topic and finding it hard to care about the topic

**2.2 Elements of False Research**
assumes that the task is merely to gather data

false research is not about depth and analysis

**2.3 The Key to Genuine Research**
what's the point of doing research then? (because your teacher told you to)?

the key to genuine research is a **good question**


 * Websites on Topic Development**

[|LeTourneau University] provides a detailed chart of questions to ask when exploring an issue or solving a problem

[|Online Library Learning Center] provides a tutorial on developing topics and choosing appropriate sources

[|Pennsylvania State University Libraries] provides an exercise on developing topics using the clustering method

[|SUNY Buffalo] connects explanations of developing a topic with concrete examples

[|University of Richmond] illustrates brainstorming by developing the topic "ethics of cigarette advertising"

[|University of Wyoming Libraries] includes an exercise on determining appropriate research questions

**2.4 A Model for Research**
[|for a tutorial on the research process go here]

**2.5 Getting Started in Research**

 * 2.5.1 Getting a Working Knowledge through Reference Sources**

get a working knowledge of your topic - can you talk about it for one minute without repeating yourself?

investigate authoritative reference sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, atlases on general or specific topics)

the best reference sources **are not available without cost** on the internet

your most useful venue for good reference information is still a library


 * 2.5.2 Wikipedia**

anyone can write and article and anyone can edit an article

if you use it, compare it with information you find in a more reliable source available in the library

**2.6 Finding a Good Question**

 * 2.6.1 Narrow your topic**

you can't conquer the world with one project (the broader your focus, the more shallow your paper)


 * 2.6.2 Identify Controversies of Questions**

research is not just the **gathering** of information but the **use** of information

information is not the end product, it is just the means to solve a problem

find something worth investigating


 * 2.6.3 Thesis Statements**

a research question addresses a problem to be solved

a thesis statement is a tentative answer to a research question

the thesis statement is the central idea, but it must be controlled by a particular claim, position, stance, point of view, or argument


 * Examples of Thesis Statements:**

Topic: September 11th terrorist attacks Thesis: There was sufficient warning of a New York 9/11-type disaster before it happened, so the government should have been well prepared for its occurrence.

Topic: American Indians Thesis: The increased violence in California's mining communities was an indication that cultural differences were creating racial tensions.

Topic: Hazing Thesis: Alcohol abuse and hazing are closely related and must be addresses as addictions.

Topic: Faith-based initiatives Thesis: Current statutes and policies that discriminate against the religious viewpoints of [faith-based organizations] have the effect of suppressing their unique character and risk alienating them entirely from participating in government programs.

Topic: Toni Morrison's //Beloved// Thesis: Toni Morrison, in her novel //Beloved//, develops the idea that maternal bonds can stunt or even obviate a woman's individuation or sense of self.

Topic: Private Contractors in Iraq Thesis: The military's use of contractors saves taxpayers money and improves efficiency by freeing up soldiers for strictly combat operations.


 * 2.6.4 Research Questions**

good ones don't regurgitate what your teacher could find in a reference book

if your question is ambitious, ask yourself whether it not its possible to find an answer - you may have to be the first to come up with the data (do original research), i.e. //What is the effect of the growth of the Internet on the prevalence of schizophrenia in the American population?// - HOW CAN YOU ANSWER THIS IF THERE IS NO DATA ON IT?

research questions should not be easy to answer, nor should they describe what is already known

the best research questions are simple ones


 * Examples of a Research Question:**

Topic: Terrorism Place: United States Time: 2001 Event: 9/11 Problem: To what extent should the government have known of the risk of the New York 9/11 disaster before it happened?

Topic: Religion Place: United States Time: 2001 to present Person/group: Bush administration Aspect: faith-based initiatives Issue: Have faith-based initiatives been effective?


 * Framing questions, Faith-Based initiatives:**

1. Why did President Bush open federal funding to religious organizations? 2. Does federal funding undermine separation of church and state? 3. Since theri inception in 2001, have faith-based initiatives been effective? 4. Do all religions qualify for funding? 5. Have religious organizations received federal funding prior to the faith-based initiatives? 6. Will federal funding be available for programs run by the Nation of Islam?

Topic: High school students Place: United States Time period: present Person/group: student athletes Issue: Why is hazing becoming increasingly violent?


 * Framing questions, High School Hazing:**

1. Who participates in high school hazing? 2. What is hazing? 3. What is the purpose of hazing rituals? Are they useful in teaching pledges certain values? 4. Is so, what values? 5. What can coaches and administrators do to reduce hazing crimes? 6. What is being done to stop hazing-related violence? 7. How does the sport culture foster hazing? 8. Why do students participate in hazing? 9. Why is hazing becoming increasingly violent? 10. Should hazing be banned? 11. Should prosecutors file charges against violent hazers? 12. Is so, what are some healthy alternatives that can replace students' unfulfilled needs that hazing satisfies? 13. Is there a correlation between poor self-esteem and hazing?

Topic: Toni Morrison's //Beloved// Person/group: Sethe, Denver and Beloved Problem: How does Sethe define Beloved and Denver as daughters?


 * Framing Questions, Toni Morrison's //Beloved// and Motherhood**

1. How does Sethe see herself? 2. What kind of mother is she? 3. Why did Sethe kill her baby? 4. What circumstances drove Sethe to kill her baby? 5. What were the consequences of her act? 6. When did Sethe realize that Beloved was her dead child? 7. Does Denver love her mother? Is so, how does she love her? 8. What relationship did Sethe have with her mother? 9. Does Beloved have more than one "mother"? 10. How do Beloved and Denver define Sethe as a mother? 11. How does Sethe define Beloved and Denver as daughters?

Topic: Toni Morrison's //Beloved// Historical group: slaves Aspect: slave narratives Problem: In what ways does Morrison subvert the traditional slave narrative?


 * Framing Questions, Toni Morrison's //Beloved// and Slave Narratives**

1. What is a slave narrative? 2. Why were slave narratives published? What was their purpose? 3. How do the narratives of slave women differ from those of their male counterparts? 4. Are there similaries and differences between //Beloved// and traditional slave narratives? 5. How does //Beloved// fit in the tradition of new-slave narratives? 6. Does //Beloved//subvert the traditional forms of the slave narrative? 7. Why did Morrison use the slave narrative as a writing strategy?

Topic: Iraqi War Person/group: private contractors Issue: Are private contractors effective in the reconstruction of Iraq?


 * Framing Questions, Private contractors in Iraq**

1. What is the role of private contractors working on U.S.-funded projects in Iraq? 2. What are the benefits of relying on the private sector for support services and operations? 3. What major projects have been complete by private contractors in Iraq? 4. How effective are private contractors in completing government contracts? 5. Have private contractors been involved in illegal actions?

Topic: American Indians Place: California Time: Nineteenth century Event: gold rush Problem: How were the cultural life and the environment of American Indians disrupted by the influx of gold seekers?


 * Framing questions, American Indians**

1. What impact did the huge population influx during the gold rush have on California American Indians? 2. How did American Indians react to whites migrating to California? 3. How did whites perceive the American Indians? 4. Did American Imdians mine gold? If so, were they free agents or did they work for whites? 5. How did the white miners treat American Indian miners? Were there tensions in the gold fields? 6. Why did the government pass laws that discriminated against American Indians? 7. In what ways were the cultural life and the environment of American Indians disrupted by the influx of gold seekers? 8. Was gold valued by American Indians before the appearance of whites?

**2.7 The Preliminary Outline**
building a clear road map

your outline tells you what you need to cover in order to write the paper that answers your research question

clear your topic with your teacher


 * Topic Development Exercise**

1. Identify your general topic 2. Narrow the topic by using these methods: A. Clustering B: Classifying: Place: Time: Person/group: Event or aspect: Problem of issue: C. Questioning

Explore your topic further by writing four questions concerning your topic. Your questions should be specific. For example, the question "Is animal experimentation good?" is vague. Rephrase for a more thought-provoking question, such as "How reliable is animal-based research?" List at least two sources that you have used that have helped you better understand your topic.