2. What is Research?
“The systematic investigation into and
study of materials and sources in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions”
(Merriam-Webster).
“Research is a process of investigation. An
examination of a subject from different
points of view. It’s not just a trip to the
library to pick up a stack of materials, or
picking the first five hits from a computer
search. Research is a hunt for the truth. It
is getting to know a subject by reading up
on it, reflecting, playing with the ideas,
choosing the areas that interest you and
following up on them. Research is the way
you educate yourself” (www.usg.edu).
3. Who are the key players?
Primary Source(s)
Secondary Source(s)
Tertiary Sources (used for finding
primary/secondary only)
Writing Process
Works Cited Page
MLA Documentation
4. What is a Primary Source?
Original materials from a specific time
period, presenting original thinking, a
new discovery, or new information
5. Which of the following would be
considered a “primary source”?
Novel Yes
Email Yes
Dictionary No
Painting Yes
6. What is a Secondary Source?
Generally, a secondary source would be
written after the account of a primary source
in order to interpret or evaluate the primary
source
7. Which of the following would be
considered a “secondary source”?
Poem No
Biography Yes
Commentary Yes
Short Story No
8. What is a Tertiary Source?
A collection of information based on
the primary and/or secondary sources
available for a certain subject
9. Which of the following would be
considered a “tertiary source”?
Textbook Yes
Encyclopedia Yes
Almanac Yes
Guidebook Yes
10. Example of Sources
Primary Secondary Tertiary
Letters by MLK, Website on King’s Encyclopedia
Jr. writings entry on the Civil
Rights Movement
A scientist’s first- A journal article A science textbook
hand lab notes about the
regarding his/her scientific
findings discovery
11. Planning Your
Research Paper
The
You are officially a research
Writi
specialist, and you are ng
beginning a journey through the Proce
American Literature we have ss!
discovered. You are, in affect, a
scientist. That means that you
have to follow a very specific
protocol- just like a scientist-
and every step is very
important. So, the first thing I
want you to know is to work very
hard and pay very close
attention. DO NOT skip one
12. What is a Works Cited Page?
To cite = to name, to mention, to quote
When researching, it is vitally important to
keep track of the sources you find and use
within your paper.
The specific and proper way to do this is on an
MLA-style formatted Works Cited page
Essentially you are citing (naming,
mentioning, quoting) the specific works
(primary and secondary sources) that you use
to collect your information
13. What is MLA Documentation?
MLA = Modern Language Association
This group develops a set of standards by
which all writing in the humanities is
formatted for consistency and ease of access
We will discuss this in more detail as you get
more into your project!
14. Bonus time!!!!!
Write a short summary of the silly video I show you for extra points!
Submit to CC Youtube Video (10/11) Dropbox in the Romanticism Unit!
15. What is Plagiarism?
Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or
borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and
"borrowing" can disguise the seriousness of the offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize"
means
to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
to use (another's production) without crediting the source
to commit literary theft
to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an
existing source.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both
stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
16. Reading with Research in Mind
Your novel is more than just a “read for
pleasure” experience
As part of your research paper/honors project,
you will be ANALYZING aspects of your novel
to develop an ARGUMENT
From there you will be RESEARCHING to find
other sources that support your assertions
This is called Literary Analysis
17. How is my Research “literary”?
You will be discussing the text of your novel, a
piece of written work!
Your discussion will revolved around certain
concepts/terms that are specifically associated
with literature
19. How is my research paper
an “analysis”?
An analysis asks over-arching questions like
“How” or “Why”, rather than basic questions
like “Who” or “What”
How the various components of a work of
literature relate to each other
How concepts and forms in a work of
literature relate to larger contexts (political,
social, economic, historical, religious, etc.)
20. Literary + Analysis = Argument …How?
When reading with research & literary analysis in mind, you will
focus on specific aspects of the text
When discussing these attributes, you will want to make sure that
you are making a specific ARGUABLE point about these aspects
(this is your thesis statement – to be discussed more later!)
You will DEFEND your ARGUMENT with support drawn from the
text & outside sources
Think if it as a court case – you’re the lawyer. The defendant is
your novel and you as the lawyer want to paint your defendant in a
certain light. The novel will be your primary source of info. You will
also call other witnesses (your research – the secondary sources) to
the stand to corroborate the defendant’s story you’re presenting.
21. Questions?
Thanks for being here!
COMING SOON:
Look for research project information coming to an LMS Part
B near you!
