Academic ResearchPart 3

Thesis & Outline EXAMPLE:Your outlines does NOT need to be in complete sentences. You may use phrases for each point.

Clause 1Santa Clause

Professor Zaiens

Developmental Communications 36B

1 December 2009

American Women and Diabetes

Thesis: Thousands of American women are diagnosed with diabetes each year. By

understanding this disease and its causes and treatments, women can live healthier lives.

I. First major section

A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

II. Second major section

A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

III. Third major section

A. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

B. Supporting detail, explanation, or example

See full paper here.

See full paper here.

Finding Print Sources

On-line catalog—in library

Click on Internet Explorer—Library home page

3 ways of searching

title

must be spelled correctly

omit “a,” “an,” or “the” if first word of title

books sorted by date of publication

topic (keyword)

author

Finding Print Sources

Citation information—found on Detail page Info given on author, title, copyright, location—Call

number Call number—number found on spine of book, indicates

where book is found in library

Additional Library Resources—Books On-Line

• E-Books• In catalog, click on URL, which takes you to

NetLibrary• Go to www.netlibrary.com

• Create a free account while on campus• Gale Virtual Reference Library

• Need a password—Mission

To use resources

On campus--no password is necessary At home--need Mission passwords (use the

handout I gave you or get the handout at the Library Reference Desk)

Magazines

Intended for general readers Wide subject area Authors not experts Brief articles Only reviewed by editor, not experts Weekly, monthly

– ex: Time, NewYorker

Journals Intended for specialists Specific in focus Authors are experts Longer articles Peer reviewed, includes bibliography Monthly, quarterly

Magazines and Journals EBSCOhost used most--entire article on line Current articles listed first Review abstract--summary of article Citation info--needed for Works Cited page Article can be emailed, saved, or printed User ID—Mission password--la

Locate Appropriate Sources of Information

Non-print sources

– Audio-visual materials– Interviews– CD-ROM’s– Databases Use this link to get to the LAMC

Library Database page. (Remember: to access the databases from home, you must use the passwords on the Library Handout I gave you). Use EBSCOhost or National Newspapers (ProQuest).

– Internet

What Is Documentation? You must provide information about each

source used in your paper. For example, if your source is a book, you must include– Author– Title– Publication data (publisher, place published, year

published)– Page numbers

To access EasyBib (for MLA) or BibMe (for APA), use this link to the Learning Center.

How to create Works Cited or Reference page

To access EasyBib (for MLA) or BibMe (for APA), use this link to the Learning Center.

To see the PowerPoint on how to format a journal from the Library database, click here.

Ways to Use Sources Direct quotation with parenthetical citation Paraphrase with parenthetical citation Summary with parenthetical citation

Direct Quotation--MLA Author included in text

– According to Hofritz, “Some candidates are unprepared to meet the requirements of political office” (90).

Author included in citation– Another writer states, “Some candidates are

unprepared to meet the requirements of political office” (Hofritz 90).

HOMEWORK: Go to the Writing Lab & ask for the “Using Quotations in MLA” handout.

Paraphrase--MLA Hofritz, for example, believes that not all

candidates are prepared to hold political offices (90).

Taking Reading Notes Use 4” x 6” or 5” x 8” index cards Take notes on each source, one card per

statement or fact or topic List author and topic on top of card Be sure to indicate whether information is a

quote, paraphrase, or summary Be SURE to note page number!

Sample Note CardBerk ADHD: Treatment--Stimulants

“Researchers do not know precisely why stimulants are helpful. Some speculate that they change the chemical balance in brain regions that inhibit impulsiveness and hyperactivity, thereby decreasing the child’s need to engage in off-task and self-stimulating behavior.”

Direct quote, p. 360

Using the Internet

for Academic Research

Benefits of Internet ResearchBenefits of Internet Research A A hugehuge volume of information from volume of information from

thousands of sources worldwidethousands of sources worldwide Up-to-the-minute information on news, Up-to-the-minute information on news,

weather, etc.weather, etc. Information when you need it—no trips Information when you need it—no trips

to the library, which is closed at midnightto the library, which is closed at midnight

Pitfalls of Internet ResearchPitfalls of Internet ResearchA A hugehuge volume of information from volume of information from

thousands of sources worldwidethousands of sources worldwideAnyoneAnyone can publish a web site can publish a web site

Sites need not be maintained or updatedSites need not be maintained or updatedSites are not supervised or reviewed for Sites are not supervised or reviewed for

accuracyaccuracy

Sites such as AOL are peppered with Sites such as AOL are peppered with sales pitches sales pitches

Breaking news is Breaking news is unfilteredunfiltered

How to Locate SourcesHow to Locate Sources A A browserbrowser program (Microsoft Explorer or Netscape program (Microsoft Explorer or Netscape

Navigator) helps you find the site you want.Navigator) helps you find the site you want. Identify Identify KeywordsKeywords. Be as specific as possible.. Be as specific as possible. Use Use Subject DirectoriesSubject Directories (INFOMINE, Lycos, Yahoo) (INFOMINE, Lycos, Yahoo) Use a Use a Search EngineSearch Engine (Alta Vista, WebCrawler, (Alta Vista, WebCrawler,

Infoseek, etc.)Infoseek, etc.) Use a Use a Meta-Search EngineMeta-Search Engine (MetaFind, DogPile, (MetaFind, DogPile,

PROFUsion)PROFUsion)

Web Site AddressesWeb Site Addresses

A Web site has its own address or A Web site has its own address or URLURL (Uniform (Uniform Resource Locator). It must be typed Resource Locator). It must be typed exactlyexactly.. The last part of the URL, called the The last part of the URL, called the domaindomain, reveals the , reveals the

site’s type of sponsorsite’s type of sponsor .com.com companies trying to sell somethingcompanies trying to sell something .edu.edu educational institutionseducational institutions .gov.gov state or federal agenciesstate or federal agencies

Sometimes you need a name you use online, called a Sometimes you need a name you use online, called a usernameusername,, and a and a passwordpassword to get started. to get started.

Using the Internet for Academic Using the Internet for Academic PurposesPurposes Two ways to searchTwo ways to search

– Search engine--i.e. GoogleSearch engine--i.e. Google• ComputerComputer recommends websites recommends websites

– Subject Directory--i.e. lii.orgSubject Directory--i.e. lii.org• LibrarianLibrarian recommends websites which have recommends websites which have

been been reviewedreviewed• Better for academic purposesBetter for academic purposes

Go to Library Homepage→Go to Library Homepage→

→→Recommended WebsitesRecommended Websites– →→Subject DirectoriesSubject Directories– The Best Information on the Net (BIOTN)The Best Information on the Net (BIOTN)– Internet Public LibraryInternet Public Library– Librarians Index to the Internet (lii.org)Librarians Index to the Internet (lii.org)

• enter topic→searchenter topic→search– result list—recommended websites, emphasis on result list—recommended websites, emphasis on

quality, not quantityquality, not quantity– list is annotated—address, when ref. was addedlist is annotated—address, when ref. was added

Google—put quotation marks Google—put quotation marks around term, i.e. “breast cancer”around term, i.e. “breast cancer”Does some rankingDoes some ranking

– frequencyfrequency– ProximityProximity

Advanced searchAdvanced search– Date—select more updated period of timeDate—select more updated period of time– DomainDomain

• .edu (educational organization—often more reliable websites).edu (educational organization—often more reliable websites)• .org (nonprofit organization—may be biased).org (nonprofit organization—may be biased)• .com (commercial entity).com (commercial entity)• .net (network of an institution).net (network of an institution)• .gov (government source—reliable).gov (government source—reliable)• .mil.mil

How to Evaluate the Content How to Evaluate the Content of Internet Sourcesof Internet Sources

Evaluate appropriatenessEvaluate appropriateness Evaluate the sourceEvaluate the source Evaluate the level of technical detailEvaluate the level of technical detail Evaluate the presentationEvaluate the presentation Evaluate completenessEvaluate completeness Check the links to see if they work and are Check the links to see if they work and are

reputablereputable

Some Helpful Web SitesSome Helpful Web Sites

http://www.latimes.comhttp://www.latimes.com http://www.pathfinder.comhttp://www.pathfinder.com http://www.csun.eduhttp://www.csun.edu http://www.library.csun.eduhttp://www.library.csun.edu http://www.library.csun.edu/websrch.htmlhttp://www.library.csun.edu/websrch.html

More Helpful Web SitesMore Helpful Web Sites http://www.bartleby.comhttp://www.bartleby.com http://www.lamission.eduhttp://www.lamission.edu http://www.laccd.eduhttp://www.laccd.edu

Electronic Text Requires New Electronic Text Requires New Reading StrategiesReading Strategies Traditional text is Traditional text is linearlinear; it progresses in a ; it progresses in a

single direction.single direction. Web sites are Web sites are multidirectionalmultidirectional and unique. and unique. Text on Web sites may not follow the Text on Web sites may not follow the

traditional main idea, supporting details traditional main idea, supporting details organization of traditional paragraphs.organization of traditional paragraphs.

Web site text requires readers to make Web site text requires readers to make decisions.decisions.

Electronic Text Requires New Electronic Text Requires New Reading StrategiesReading Strategies Web sites allow readers the flexibility to choose Web sites allow readers the flexibility to choose

the order in which to receive the information.the order in which to receive the information. Web sites use Web sites use iconsicons and new symbol systems.and new symbol systems. Web sites use shorter, less detailed sentences and Web sites use shorter, less detailed sentences and

paragraphs, but a great deal of graphics, links, etc.paragraphs, but a great deal of graphics, links, etc.

Read more slowly, perhaps 25 percent more slowly!

Electronic Text Requires New Electronic Text Requires New Reading StrategiesReading Strategies Reading Web sites involves paying attention to Reading Web sites involves paying attention to

(and being distracted by) sound, graphics, and (and being distracted by) sound, graphics, and movement, as well as words.movement, as well as words.

Text on Web sites comes in brief, independent Text on Web sites comes in brief, independent screenfuls, sometimes called nodes.screenfuls, sometimes called nodes.

Web sites include numerous links to other Web Web sites include numerous links to other Web sitessites

It’s hard to highlight a computer screenIt’s hard to highlight a computer screen

Develop New Ways of Develop New Ways of Thinking and ReadingThinking and Reading

Focus on your purpose—stay on task!Focus on your purpose—stay on task! Get used to the site’s design and layoutGet used to the site’s design and layout Pay attention to how information is organizedPay attention to how information is organized Only use links to find the information you needOnly use links to find the information you need

Explore links that are related to your topicExplore links that are related to your topic Use Use BookmarksBookmarks and and FavoritesFavorites or or note the note the

addresses addresses of good sites or useof good sites or use delicious.com delicious.com Print and read offline (finally, a way to highlight!)Print and read offline (finally, a way to highlight!) Use the “Back” button to find your way “home.”Use the “Back” button to find your way “home.”

Take notes as you explore a complicated Web siteTake notes as you explore a complicated Web site