Framing the Context:Topic Development & Specialized
Database Search
Elizabeth McKeigue & Nicole Branch
Santa Clara University Library
Image courtesy of flickr user Jeff Babbitt
Objectives• Practice a model to help develop
assignment topics
• Become familiar with library resources for popular and scholarly sources
• Develop a strategy for searching for sources for your assignment
Image courtesy of flickr user Kirsten Pauli
Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance
Image courtesy of flickr user D. Robert Wolcheck
Choosing Your Topic
• An interesting subject that came up in class
• Something you are passionate about
• A topic you would like to learn more about
Image courtesy of flickr user Evelyn Flint
Assignment Parameters
• Religion & media
• New media (2006-Present)
• Extend or add to something that came up in class
Image courtesy of flickr user Evelyn Flint
Warm up
• Write down your topic as it currently exists
• If you don’t have a topic yet, write down a topic related religion and new media
Focus your topic
• If you can state your topic in 2-3 words, it is too broad.
• Narrow your topic by adding focus:Specific community/religion
Type of media
Religious practice
Examples
• Specific Community
» United States; Christians
• Type of new media
Twitter, Facebook, blogs
• Religious practice» Prayer; Proselytizing
Discussion
• Describe your primary topic to your neighbor.
• Integrate a context to develop your topic.• Specific community/religion
• Type of new media
• Religious practice
Question
• Add a question such as how, why, or in what ways to your topic.
• In what ways does prayer on Twitter impact community identity among geographically dispersed people?
Common Mistakes
• Avoid questions with one word answers or that cannot be answered within limits of the assignment.
• Avoid questions that are too vague or cannot be answered with research.
• Avoid speculation without evidence.
Question
• In what ways does prayer on Twitter impact community identity among geographically dispersed people?
Significance & Inquiry
• What do you want to explore?
• My research will explore ….. Because I want to find out…
Twitter, Prayer & Community
My research will explore
The use of prayer on Twitter by geographically dispersed people
Because I want to find out» In what ways character length, use of hashtags, and
sharing/responding to prayer impacts the community identity of geographically dispersed people.
Significance
My research will explore
The use of prayer on Twitter by geographically dispersed people
Because I want to find out» In what ways character length, use of hashtags, and
sharing/responding to prayer impacts the community identity of geographically dispersed people.
Inquiry
My research will explore
The use of prayer on Twitter by geographically dispersed people
Because I want to find out» In what ways character length, use of hashtags, and
sharing/responding to prayer impacts the community identity of geographically dispersed people.
Reflection & Discussion
Apply significance to your question
• My research will explore___________ because I want to find out ___________.
Thesis Statement
My thesis is that the brief nature of tweets, use of hashtags to join together individuals with common interests and social interaction of retweeting can create a global community identity for those who pray on Twitter.
Identifying Keywords
My research will explore
The use of prayer on Twitter by geographically dispersed people
Because I want to find out» In what ways character length, use of hashtags, and
sharing/responding to prayer impacts the community identity of geographically dispersed people.
Identifying Keywords
My research will explore
The use of prayer on Twitter by geographically dispersed people
Because I want to find out» In what ways character length, use of hashtags, and
sharing/responding to prayer impacts the community identity of geographically dispersed people.
Finding Primary & Secondary Sources
• Explore the difference between primary & secondary sources
• Identify & explore popular sources
• Find scholarly articles
• Go to the guide, answer the poll questions
Primary & Secondary Sources
Primary & Secondary Sources- Joshua Vossler: https://vimeo.com/81897081
In Class Activity 1
• Work in pairs
• Go to list of Primary Source Resources
• Choose one of your topics and look for an article or other source that provides context or background to your research question
• Share with the class
In Class Activity 2
• Work on your own
• Go to list of Secondary Source Resources
• Look for an article or other source on your topic that provides analysis or a response to your research question
• Answer the questions in Poll 3. I will share your responses with Prof. Drescher and you will get class participation credit
Questions?
Any last questions about
• Topic Development
• Database searching
• Search strategy
• Primary & secondary or popular & scholarly sources
Nicole Branch
Instruction Librarian
408.554.5436
Thank you to flickr users:Jeff BabbittEvelyn FlintKirsten Pauli& D. Robert Wolcheck
for sharing their work through creative commons license.
Elizabeth McKeigue
Instruction Librarian
408.554.6927
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