WP 1212 Academic Writing and Research

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS 1-4

Student Name:_________________________________________________________________________
Course and Section: ____________________________________________________________________
Instructor: __________________________________ Date: ____________________________________
Research Assignments 1-4 will enable you to deepen your understanding of the research process and to
reflect thoughtfully on your efforts and experiences. The following Research Assignments will also
increase your information literacy skills by asking you to practice research skills with different kinds of
sources, from reference material to websites. Lets begin!

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 1:
Identifying Terms for Researching a Topic and Consulting Reference Sources
PART A
Research Assignment 1 will help you focus your topic and generate the relevant terms and key words
that you will need to use throughout your research process. Part A can be started in class.
TIP: Refer to Chapter 2 of The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers How Do You Find and Explore
a Topic?
1. Finding a focus
a. What is the topic you will research for your paper?
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
b. Which are various aspects of this topic (social, ethical, legal, etc.)?
Aspects: ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

If your instructor or classmates suggest that your topic is not narrow enough, discuss it further with
your instructor during office hours.
Your instructor may also suggest that you visit the Student Academic Support Services to seek
additional assistance on topic selection and focus.

2. Finding appropriate research terms

What are some key terms that are relevant to your research topic?
Terms: ______________________________________________________________
Broader Terms:______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Narrower Terms:____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Related Terms: ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

PART B
To assist you in finding the most appropriate subject terms, consult the reference material available in the
Library. Reference material will introduce you to the background of your topic and will help you understand
the broader context within which you will find your more focused topic. Starting with reference materials is
a useful strategy for whenever you begin exploring a topic in any of your other courses.
You will find electronic reference sources through the Books > Reference Resources link on the
Library webpage. For specialized reference sources you can consult databases like Credo Reference.

Things to Do
1. Find material relevant to your topic in at least 2 online reference sources using the terms you have
noted down in PART A. You can access online encyclopedias through the Books>Reference
Resources link on the Library website (e.g., Credo Reference).
2. Create an Annotated Bibliography:
a. First, record the bibliographic details of each of the two (or more) reference sources you
locate. Then word-process the bibliography of the reference sources you have read and
selected as relevant to your specific topic and argument. We recommend MLA
documentation style for this class. For guidelines on academic reference styles consult:
The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers Part VIII Documentation
DEREE Library website
The Purdue OWL website
b. Second, annotate each source:
Summarize the source in 3-4 sentences, identifying the main focus and important
supporting points.
Discuss in 2-3 sentences the following questions:
How do you see your topic differently in light of the new background information from this
reference source? How does it contribute to and inform your research? For example, does it
support or contradict your ideas about your topic? In what way would you use this source in your
research paper?
3. As you read the articles you have selected from each reference source, underline key terms
(broader, narrower, and /or related) relevant to your research topic.

4. List below the new key terms you discovered that are relevant to your research topic:
Related Terms: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Broader Terms: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Narrower Terms: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

TIP: If you come across a term you are not familiar with, look it up in a college dictionary such as the
Oxford Reference (Library website>Books>Reference Resources). Several print reference resources can also
be found at the reference section in the Library.
5. Print-out the article(s) or chapter(s) you have selected from each source.
6. Write a Reflection Paragraph (200 words):

Discuss how you spent your time in the Library; the search terms you used; the sources you
rejected and why; the questions you posed to the Reference Desk; any new discoveries you
made concerning your topic.
Reflect on what you have learned about the research process through doing Research
Assignment 1.

7. Which specific controversial aspect of your topic will you debate in your research paper? Which is
the research question that will guide your research?
Specific aspect: ________________________________________________________________________
Research Question: ____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

9. Create a Working Topic Proposal of 250-300 words. (See Chapter 2 Section 2d of the The Scott,
Foresman Handbook for Writers pp.25-26 for suggestions on writing your own topic proposal.)

Checklist for Things to Submit with Research Assignment 1

Annotated Bibliography
Printouts of reference source material
Reflection Paragraph
Working Topic Proposal
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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 2:
Discovering Books
Research Assignment 2 will help you to discover relevant books in the John S. Bailey Library.

Things to Do
1. Use the Library Catalog to find at least 3 books (circulating and /or eBooks) relevant to your topic
using the terms you have noted down in Research Assignment 1.
2. Use the My List tool on the Library catalog to keep track of books. Print out this list.
3. Select 1 or 2 chapters (or parts of chapters) that are relevant to your focus and read them closely.
4. Create an Annotated Bibliography:
a. First, record the bibliographic details of each of the three (or more) books you locate. Then
word-process the bibliography of the books you have read and selected as relevant to your
specific topic and argument. We recommend MLA documentation style for this class. For
guidelines on academic reference styles consult:
The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers Part VIII Documentation
DEREE Library website
The Purdue OWL website
b. Second, annotate each source:

Summarize the source in 3-4 sentences, identifying the main argument and important
supporting points.
Assess the source in 3-4 sentences by responding to the following questions: Who produced
the information? What are the credentials of the author(s)? Where is it published or posted?
When was it published or posted? Does the information represent a particular viewpoint?
What are the sources cited by this source? Is the source and its information reliable?
Discuss in 2-3 sentences the following questions:
How do you see your topic differently in light of this source? For example, how does this
book contribute to your understanding of your topic differently than reference material? How
does it contribute to and inform your research? For example, does it support or contradict
your ideas about your topic? In what way would you use this source in your research paper?

4. Photocopy the first two pages of each book that contain bibliographic information (i.e., the title
and copyright pages). Note: check with your instructor first if you wish to photocopy chapters or
other information from the books you find.
5. Write a Reflection Paragraph (200 words):

Discuss how you spent your time in the Library; how you found useful sources; the search
terms you used; the sources you rejected and why; the questions you posed to the Reference
Desk; any new discoveries you made concerning your topic.
Reflect on what you have learned about the research process through doing Research
Assignment 2.

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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

Tips for Discovering Books and Relevant Bibliographical Information

Use the Books link on the Library website and select the Library Catalog to search for books. Add
the print or electronic books you have selected to My List. Print out the list. In the case of print books,
it will provide you with locations and call numbers, so that you will be able to find print books on the
shelves.

Dont forget to browse the shelves! Books about the same subject are shelved together. When you locate
a book on the shelf, look above, below and beside it to find other relevant books.

To search for specific information within a book, use the Table of Contents in the front and the Index in
the back of the book.

To form the citation for each book, use the Title Page and the Copyright Page. The title page provides the
title and subtitle of the work and usually the names of the author(s), editor(s), publisher(s) as well as the
edition, volume, place of publication, etc. The copyright page includes additional information on year of
publication, series to which the book belongs, etc.

Need more help? Seek the help of a Reference Librarian and consult the Librarys website.

Checklist for Things to Submit for Research Assignment 2

Print-out of your comprehensive My List from the Library Catalog

Annotated Bibliography
Photocopies of material from books
Reflection Paragraph

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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 3:
Discovering Relevant Periodical Articles using Research Databases
Research Assignment 3 will introduce you to the wealth of information in articles in databases (e.g.,
from journals, magazines, newspapers) available to you as a Deree student through the DEREE
databases.

Things to Do
1.

Find at least 4 relevant periodical articles found in the periodical databases using the terms you have
noted down in Research Assignment 1 or any additional relevant terms you have encountered.

2.

Print the articles you plan to use in your research.

3.

Create an Annotated Bibliography:

a. First, record the bibliographic details of each of the four (or more) articles you locate. Then
word-process the bibliography of the articles you have read and selected as relevant to
your specific topic and argument. We recommend MLA documentation style for this
class. For guidelines on academic reference styles consult:
The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers Part VIII Documentation
DEREE Library website
The Purdue OWL website
b. Second, annotate each source:

3.

Summarize the source in 3-4 sentences, identifying the main argument and important
supporting points.
Assess the source in 3-4 sentences by responding to the following questions: Who produced
the information? What are the credentials of the author(s)? Where is it published or posted?
When was it published or posted? Does the information represent a particular viewpoint?
What are the sources cited by this source? Is the source and its information reliable?
Discuss in 2-3 sentences the following questions:
How do you see your topic differently in light of this source? For example, how has this
article contributed to your understanding of your topic differently than books or reference
material? How does it contribute to and inform your research? For example, how does it
support (or contradict) your ideas about your topic? In what way would you use this source in
your research paper?

Write a Reflection Paragraph (200 words):

Discuss how you spent your time in the Library; how you found useful sources; the search
terms you used; the sources you rejected and why; the questions you posed to the Reference
Desk; any new discoveries you made concerning your topic.
Reflect on what you have learned about the research process through doing Research
Assignment 3.

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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

Tips for Searching for Periodicals

Search for articles in the Articles link on the Library website. Depending on your topic, select a subject
from the Articles databases by Subject list. If you are not sure where to start, select the Social Issues
guide.

Sometimes you may find an article citation or abstract that is not accompanied by full text. Use the
Periodicals A-Z link to check if the article is available in another format or in another database.

Need more help? Seek the help of a Reference Librarian and consult the Librarys website.

Checklist for Things to Submit for Research Assignment 3

Annotated Bibliography
Printouts of sources
Reflection Paragraph

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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 4:
Discovering Relevant Material on the Internet
Research Assignment 4 will help you navigate the worldwide web in order to find relevant and
reliable sources.

Things to do:
1. Find at least 3 web sources relevant to your topic.
2. Print the texts you plan to use in your research. Make sure your printout includes the URL and the
date of printing at the top/bottom of the page
3. Create an Annotated Bibliography:
a. First, record the bibliographic details of each of the three (or more) web sources you locate.
Then word-process the bibliography of the web sources you have read and selected as
relevant to your specific topic and argument. We recommend MLA documentation style for
this class. For guidelines on academic reference styles consult:
The Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers Part VIII Documentation
DEREE Library website
The Purdue OWL website
b. Second, annotate each source:

Summarize the source in 3-4 sentences, identifying the main argument and important
supporting points.
Assess the source in 3-4 sentences by responding to the following questions: Who produced
the information? What are the credentials of the author(s)? Where is it published or posted?
When was it published or posted? Does the information represent a particular viewpoint?
What are the sources cited by this source? Is the source and its information reliable?
Discuss in 2-3 sentences the following questions:
How do you see your topic differently in light of this source? For example, how has this
online source contributed to your understanding of your topic differently than articles, books,
or reference material? How does it contribute to and inform your research? For example, does
it support or contradict your ideas about your topic? In what way would you use this source
in your research paper?

3. Write a Reflection Paragraph (200 words):

a. Discuss how you spent your time searching for sources; how you found useful
sources; the search terms and databases you used; the web sources you rejected and
why; any new discoveries you made concerning your topic.
b. Reflect on what you have learned about the research process through doing
Research Assignments 1-4.

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WP 1212 Academic Writing & Research

Tips on Finding and Evaluating Online Information

Use this Assignment to find information that is different in form and content than what you have already
collected. For example, you may find more recent or more specific information than you have in the
previous Research Assignments. You may also find information in a different format or medium, such
as video, audio, and other graphic or multimedia material.

Consult websites of news agencies, political organizations, government institutions, environmental

groups, commercial enterprises, academics, professionals, etc. Note how frequently websites have been
updated.

Be critical of the information you find on a website. To evaluate web resources use the following
RADAR criteria as your navigating equipment:

RELEVANCE:

HOW is the information relevant to your research?

AUTHORITY:

WHO is the author? What tells you that they are authoritative? That
their information is accurate and can be trusted?

DATE:

WHEN was the information published? Is the date important? Do you

need current information?

A
APPEARANCE:

Can you get useful clues from the APPEARANCE of the site? Does it
look serious and academic? Or does it look as if it was written for
children? Or as if its trying to sell something?
REASON for writing: WHY was the source published to produce a balanced, professional
piece of work to add to the body of knowledge? Or is it for propaganda,
and biased? To sell something? Or is it a spoof site, written for fun?

Checklist for Things to Submit for Research Assignment 4

Annotated Bibliography
Printouts of sources
Reflection Paragraph

Together with Research Assignment 4 submit a Works Consulted List

Works Consulted: The 12 or more sources you have collected up to now in Research Assignments 14 comprise your list of Works Consulted. Compile an alphabetized Works Consulted list that
combines all the sources you found (without the annotations) to submit to your instructor.

The sources you have collected up to now (at least 12) constitute your list of Works Consulted. You will
probably only select some of these substantial sources to use in your research paper. The works you
ultimately refer to in your paper will comprise your list of Works Cited / References (8-10 sources). As you
refine your topic and focus your thesis, you will most likely need to find additional sources.
Good Luck Writing Your Essay!
Spring 2015