Research Tools for Argument Papers
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This document provides an overview of a library instruction session for an English 1023 Argument Paper class. It reviews the elements of an argumentative paper and the research process. It then demonstrates how to use the library catalog and databases to find sources, including Congressional Digest, electronic books, and video debates. Government sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics are also discussed. The presentation covers citing sources in the text, creating a works cited list, and citation logic. Students complete a worksheet to practice the research skills.
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Research Tools for Argument Papers
- 1. English 1023 Library Instruction for the Argument Paper Susan Whitmer, Reference Librarian TWU Libraries Spring 2016
- 2. Agenda 1. Review elements of the argumentative paper 2. Examine the research process 3. TWUniversal finding aid 1. twu.edu/library 4. ENG 1023 Class Page and government sources 1. libguides.twu.edu/literature/ENG1023 5. Citation logic 6. Survey 5/6/2016 2
- 3. Arguing a Position Elements of an argument paper: • Focused issue • Supported position • Effective response to opposing views • Logical organization Source: Axelrod, Rise B. and Charles R. Cooper. “Chapter 6: Arguing a Position.” The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 242-295. Print. 5/6/2016 3
- 4. Research Process Research process review • Find a topic • Write an argument statement • Focus on nouns and synonyms as search terms Finding Tools • TWUniversal Library Catalog • twu.edu/library • ENG 1023 Class Page • libguides.twu.edu/literature/ENG1023 5/6/2016 4
- 5. 5/6/2016 5 The Three Stages of Research Grief 1. Hard work Pleasure of the hunt 2. Frustration Satisfaction 3. Confusion Confidence
- 6. TWUniversal TWUniversal • Congressional Digest • Electronic books • Intelligence Squared – debates on video 5/6/2016 6
- 7. Locate Congressional Digest @TWUniversal 5/6/2016 7
- 9. Type Congressional Digest in search box, click on search 5/6/2016 9
- 12. 5/6/2016 12
- 13. Search within this publication 5/6/2016 13
- 17. Locate Electronic books @ TWUniversal 5/6/2016 17
- 18. TWUniversal: Electronic Books 5/6/2016 18 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. In the Any pull-down menu, select in subject 2. In the contains pull-down menu, select phrase 3. Enter gun control in the search box 4. In the Resource Type pull-down menu, select “Electronic Books” 5. Click Search
- 19. Electronic books 5/6/2016 19 Click icon to view book Sorting options
- 20. Locate Intelligence Squared @ TWUniversal 5/6/2016 20
- 21. Intelligence Squared 5/6/2016 21 1. 4. 3. 2. 1. Select “phrase” from the pull-down menu 2. Type “intelligence squared” in search box 3. Select “Media/Streaming” from Resource Type pull-down menu 4. Click “Search”
- 22. Intelligence Squared 5/6/2016 22 Click icon to view video
- 23. Intelligence Squared 5/6/2016 23 Click on Films on demand
- 25. ENG 1023 Worksheet Part 1: TWUniversal 1. Select one topic 2. Write a sentence expressing an opinion about your topic 3. Locate information using suggested sources from TWUniversal: • Congressional Digest • Electronic Books • Intelligence Squared 4. Fill in available citation information 5. Review your source and write notes: • Supporting your argument • Alternate perspectives to your argument 5/6/2016 25
- 26. 5/6/2016 26 Part 2 Searching A-Z Databases and Government Sources
- 27. Recommended Databases 5/6/2016 27 Databases Description America: History & Life • American History, American Life • Only 6 users at a time Credo Reference Reference Books: Almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias Issues & Controversies • Clear explanations of opposing points of view • Articles, chronologies, illustrations, bibliographies Newspaper Sources • LexisNexis • Newspaper Source • New York Times
- 28. 5/6/2016 28
- 29. Credo Reference 5/6/2016 29 Credo Reference is a multidisciplinary reference source that searches encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, etc.
- 30. Issues & Controversies 5/6/2016 30 Issues & Controversies covers current and historical events. It is an authoritative source for factual analysis and clear explanations of opposing points.
- 31. Newspaper Sources • LexisNexis • Newspaper Source • ProQuest National Newspapers 5/6/2016 31 Newspaper sources include editorial opinion pieces as well as articles.
- 32. Government Sources Government Sources on the Internet • Bureau of Labor Statistics, bls.gov • Census.gov • USA.gov 5/6/2016 32
- 33. Government sources The Bureau of Labor Statistics, bls.gov, is a Federal agency that measures labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. USA.gov is the United States government’s official web portal. USA.gov provides access to U.S. government information and services on the web. The United States Census Bureau, census.gov, is the agency responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. 5/6/2016 33
- 34. Citations A citation is a reference to an authoritative source. Why cite materials used for research? 1. To build credibility, gesture of confidence 2. To build on previous research 3. To give credit to creators 4. To provide a path for future scholars 5. To avoid plagiarism 5/6/2016 34
- 35. Citations Citation sources: 1. Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) 1. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/ 2. APA and MLA Citation Game 1. https://depts.washington.edu/trio/quest/citation/apa_mla_ citation_game/ 5/6/2016 35
- 36. Citing sources in the text • Include author-page number citation information in the text to acknowledge information sources Example: Medieval Europe was a place both of “raids, pillages, slavery, and extortion” and of “traveling merchants, monetary exchange, towns if not cities, and active markets in grain” (Townsend 10). 5/6/2016 36 Author Page # Source: MLA Handbook 214
- 37. Citation Logic 1. Each in-text citation matches an entry in the Works Cited list 2. Parenthetical means within parenthesis, example (MLA Handbook 214) 3. The hanging indent: Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. Print. 4. Practice citing a source without a guide 5/6/2016 37
- 38. 5/6/2016 38 ENG 1023 Worksheet Part 2: Databases and Government Sources 1. Write what you now believe about your subject; rewrite/revise your topic sentence. 2. Search A-Z database sources: • Credo Reference • Issues & Controversies • Newspaper Databases • Opposing Viewpoints Government Sources: • Bureau of Labor Statistics • Census.gov • USA.gov 3. Fill in citation information 4. Review your source and write notes: • Supporting your argument • Providing alternate perspectives to your argument 5. Survey: libguides.twu.edu/ENG1023
- 40. References Works Cited Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. Print. Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2009. Print. Whitmer, Susan. English 1023 Class Page. Texas Woman’s University, 2016. Web. 5/6/2016 40
- 41. Contact Information Susan Whitmer Reference Librarian TWU Libraries swhitmer@twu.edu 5/6/2016 41
Editor's Notes
- “Hello, welcome to library instruction for English 1023!” Ask students to: Fill out the top portion of the worksheet Log on to the TWU Libraries’ home page: twu.edu/library
- As we review today’s agenda, we focus on finding aids and sources for the argumentative paper. However, the library sources discussed today can be applied to any research paper. Review the elements of the argumentative paper: Find a topic that will hold your interest through the research process, make it personal, make it your passion It is important to keep in mind that you want sources that support your argument and sources that provide alternate views Examine the research process TWUniversal resources finding aid Demonstrate search techniques: Congressional Digest Electronic Books Intelligence Squared Worksheet activity ENG 1023 Guide and Government sources finding aids: The ENG 1023 Guide is a one-stop shop for all your research needs. The guide provides links to databases, citation help, and writing help Demonstrate search techniques Worksheet activity MLA citation logic: Learn the logic that underlies citations for easier citation creation Survey
- Elements of an argumentative paper: 1. Focused issue – read articles that present your issue and ask, Is the argument clearly represented? Become familiar with the arguments in favor of your issue 2. Supported position – argue your position with clear evidence that supports your opinion 3. Effective response to opposing views – find alternative views to your position and respond with counter arguments 4. Logical organization – write a thesis statement that directly asserts your position. Preview the supporting reasons for your argument
- Research process review Find a topic Choose a topic you are passionate about. It’s easier to persevere if you have a personal interest in the topic Write an argument statement Focus on nouns and synonyms when searching for articles Finding Tools TWUniversal Library Catalog - located at twu.edu/library TWUniversal is a one-stop solution for finding articles, books, digital collections, journals, streaming video, course reserves, and more. ENG 1023 Class Page- List of links to suggested sources for the Arguing a Position paper, government sources – government web sites with articles, reports, papers
- Before we get started on the best sources for the argument paper, I’d like to talk about the Three Stages of Research Grief. I’m a researcher, my research interests are: Information literacy Digital humanities Learning technologies I am familiar with the Three stages of research grief: Hard work leads to the pleasure of the hunt – this happens when I stumble upon the right combination of search terms to locate materials for my research Frustration leads to satisfaction – my frustration is usually getting stuck in a circular pattern then breaking it by rearranging search terms or using limiters and striking a vein of gold of information Confusion leads to confidence – when you start to locate relevant information by using the right combination of search terms and limiters, you build confidence as a SuperSearcher
- TWUniversal searches the TWU Libraries catalog of print and electronic subscription materials. We’re first searching Congressional Digest which is an electronic journal. Congressional Digest presents congressional debates on controversial issues with arguments from both sides on pending legislation. Electronic books are a good source of information and easy to access from your electronic devices when you aren’t able to visit the library. Intelligence Squared is an organization that stages debates about current events. This London-based group distributes the debates via video and audio.
- The three-step process to locate Congressional Digest is step 1: TWUniversal, click on Advanced Search
- Select: Academic Search Complete. This is a list of all the database companies that subscribe to Congressional Digest
- Enter your TWU username and password to login. What? We’ve already logged into the system once, why do we have to log in again? Currently, it’s a system requirement to log in to both the catalog and the databases.
- Notice that JN “Congressional Digest” is listed in the first search box. If you need to restart your search, simply enter JN “Congressional Digest” in the first search box to make sure that you are searching this journal.
- The list of 22 results is idea because you can skim each article. Twenty-two results is not overwhelming. The ideal list of results is over 20 and under 50. Pay close attention to “Subjects.” In this case, the Affordable Care Act is synonymous with: Health care reform Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act Administration of public health programs Health care management industry Health and medical insurance carriers Federal regulation
- In the “Any” pull-down menu, select “in subject” to get results that have your subject in the description In the “contains” pull-down menu, select “phrase” to get results with the exact wording of your phrase, in this case we are searching for gun control Enter “gun control” in the search box In the “Resource Type” pull-down menu, select “Electronic Books” Click Search
- Bingo! We received 14 results by using the limiters: in subject, phrase, and the search term minimum wage The results can be sorted by date, popularity, and relevance. I selected Popularity because it is a good indication of the titles other scholars are using To view the EBook, select the EBook icon
- Our third and final TWUniversal search is for Intelligence Squared, a database of videotaped debates. Intelligence Squared is a London-based organization that stages and videotapes debates on current issues. Intelligence Squared is associated with the Foundation for Effective Governance. The debates are held in the Oxford style which means they are competitive. The audience is polled before and after the debate. The debate team with the majority of votes or the team that has swayed the audience the most, wins. Start at the libraries’ home page: twu.edu/library select Advanced Search
- Select “phrase” from the pull-down menu Type “intelligence squared” in the search box Select “Media/Streaming” from Resource Type pull-down menu Click “Search”
- We currently have 37 Intelligence Squared videos. Review the results list and select a video Select the icon to view the video
- Click on “Films on demand”
- The features of Intelligence Squared videos include: Length of video: one hour and 37 minutes (1:37:59) Segments: A breakdown of the debate in segments Transcript Related videos Closed caption
- You will have ten minutes to select a topic, write a sentence expressing an opinion about your topic, and write citation information using sources from TWUniversal. If you finish these tasks, review your source and write notes that support your argument and provide an alternate perspective to your argument.
- For part two of today’s library instruction, we’ll review relevant databases from the A-Z databases list and relevant government sources on the internet
- The recommended databases for English 1023 will provide you with credible information from authorities in their fields. I’ll give a brief introduction to each of the recommended dababases: Credo Reference, Issues & Controversies, Newspaper Sources, and Opposing Viewpoints Use the A-Z databases! We will explore basic navigation skills today but video tutorials are provided on Youtube and detailed database navigation is usually located in the Help options of each database. Your tuition pays for these expensive resources. I repeat, The A-Z databases provide credible information from authorities in their fields. The A-Z database list is located at the library’s home page at twu.edu/library and the list of selected databases are located at the English 1023 Class page.
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- Credo reference is an online source for encyclopedias and dictionaries. Using advanced search, type in a topic
- Issues & Controversies is a popular choice for the argument essay. This database covers current and historical events. It is an authoritative source for factual analysis and clear explanations of opposing points.
- Newspaper editorials and opinion pieces are good sources to use in the arugument essay. LexisNexis is for advanced users. Their user interface is a little difficult to navigate NewsBank Texas Newspapers is a good source for local information. The newspapers in this database include: The Denton Record Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Newspaper source and Proquest provide national coverage. Remember to use the Advanced Search options in all of these to focus your search.
- My argumentative issue is Bike Lanes. In my argumentative paper, I want to see the government statistics on Bike Lanes to prove: Bike lanes decrease obesity [citation needed] Bike lanes provide economic benefits to urban communities [citation needed] Bike lanes are safe, they make biking safe for bikers and commuters [citation needed] Building bike lanes increases bike traffic [citation needed] Biking is better than cars for the environment, the human body, and urban communities [citation needed] The negative information I found on the government websites provide the Con of my argument: Bike lanes are costly to design and maintain [citation needed] Bike lanes don’t always bring more cyclists [citation needed] Car drivers are confused by bike lanes[citation needed]