Investigating Sources...

Welcome to Research Writing!!

SOURCE TYPE

Secondary sources:

• These sources are written about a subject of research, often both scholarly but can come from popular sources.
• These are usually academic articles, books, websites, "about" a particular subject.
• Evidence based, backing up another scholar/idea/theory.
• Very important sources for finding valuable quotes and material to establish your thesis and on-going research.
• These are sources OTHERS have written but speaks to the work/research you are doing.

Research Writing Tips - SUMMARY

• Your explanation of the source's details and info where you cite major key concepts and areas. Often this happens when using abstract, introduction, conclusion or other material.
• Essential ideas, concepts, across a chapter or longer passages.
• Quotes may be used to emphasize key areas of your summary.

Examples:

• Henderson finds it important in stressing the concept of "intercommunication" and "networking" as huge aspects of social media which help connect and separate communities which is proven at so many areas of his text (56).
• Nolan discusses the importance of "rhetorical needs" and "rhetorical situation" as being the two main driving points behind a discourse community, in one case, using LinkedIn posts to spread awareness of events (34).

Research Writing Tips - PARAPHRASES

• Information taken from a source but put in your own words or alternate phrasing through the use of synonyms, separating/joining sentence ideas, or aligning with a reader-friendly language.
• Puts things a different way while still taking meaning from original.

Examples:

DQ - "The acceleration of globalized information technology has led to a mental health crisis in America associated with anxiety caused by the proliferation of social media trends among the youth culture" (James 45).

Paraphrase - Many have studied the effects of too much screen time with social media which has led to disorders and healthier trends are needed among younger generations (James 45).

Research Writing Tips - DIRECT QUOTE

• Direct Quotes: Information pulled "word for word" directly from your source (passage, voice/video dialogue, important statement)
• Don't over-use DQs but be selective of where they show up within your own writing.
• Often, you use a DQ to establish a critical message that you will write about and analyze after the quote appears.
• Block Quote: 5+ lines, quote appears completed indented, away from your original writing.

Example:

Dr. Laura Ringold discusses that, "the key signs of a healthy online community are associated with proactive participation among members, contributions in chat rooms that lend to productive response from others, and as one study suggests, an increased rate of members who engage in networked awareness of information flow" (Ringold 45).

Writing with Sources Tips - SIGNAL PHRASES

• A phrase or word cue that you will introduce a passage.
• Conveys tone, attitude, of the writer or work (e.g. argues, defends demonstrates, etc.)
• Helps the reader prepare for the idea in the word presented.

Examples:

• In Smith's article, he argues...
• Dr. Woodridge asserts that....
• Within the critical text by...
• Within this passage on communication,
• In a study conducted by...
• A critical moment in X suggests...

Writing with Sources Tips - Always CITE MATERIAL no matter no matter the style of writing

• In Text Citations = (AUTHOR PAGE NUMBERS) (ORGANIZATION PAGE NUMBER) - MLA

LOOKS LIKE = (Smith 46)

• In Text Citations = (AUTHOR, DATE, PP. #) (ORGANIZATION, DATE, PP. #) - APA

LOOKS LIKE = (Henderson, 1992, p.45)

From Language Awareness... Ch.5 A Brief Guide To A Research Paper

"The purpose of a research paper is not to present a collection of quotations that show you can report what others have said about your topic. Rather, your goal is to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the materials your research— and thereby learn how to do so with any topic. You learn how to view the results of research from your own perspective and arrive at an informed opinion of a topic" (99).

Evaluating your Sources...

Book (MLA)

Greene, Stuart and Lidinsky, April. From Inquiry to              Academic Writing, 3rd edition, Bedford/St                  Martin's, 2015,1-28.

Greene, Stuart and Lidinsky, April. (2015).                From Inquiry to Academic Writing, (3rd                ed.), pp.1-28

Book (APA)

Citing a Video...

"Ocean Life - An Exotic Underwater Adventure" Youtube, uploaded by Terra Wonder, Feb. 26, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqf2o668ADw

If no Organization is given, START with the Title...

Articles & Databases

• Primarily you will be using CMU Library Databases and Google Scholar as ways of finding sources (both are linked on our Canvas HOME Page at the bottom).

Use Key Terms Planet Mars and/or Migration and/or Astronomy

Let's use Mars as an example...

In-Class Pre-Research Activity: Finding/Evaluating a Key Source

Based on our Language Awareness Reading in Chapter 5, consider the importance of finding key sources that can support the work you've started with Discourse Community. Use CMU Library Database, Google Scholar, or general search to:

• Browse/filter your search to find a key source that you find interesting, helpful, insightful, or can build on the writing and conversation you have started with the Analysis Essay on Discourse Community.
• Concentrate on aspects of the source like Title, Abstract, when it was published, and other key info. 
• Write a brief reflection (250 words) why you settled on this source being a good place to start. Will you add this one to your Secondary Source Chart? 

Tips To Finding Sources

• Narrow down your results using the TOOLS Search Bar . This is usually off to the side of most databases and search pages and you can toggle date range, peer-reviewed, subject, full-text, etc.

• If you are looking for an article be aware of whether it is PEER-REVIEWED, and the Date of when it was published. Some instructors, especially in science/medical fields will be particularly picky about sources being as recent as possible. 

• Use the ADVANCED SEARCH OPTION when using a database. If using a database, they have similar tools to reduce results. 

• What's the difference between using information from a "scholarly" article from a library database, versus information found on a popular website or blog? What could be good or bad about both?

• What is researcher bias and why might it be a good idea to check the source out before using it? Evaluating sources means...

Discussion Questions for You: (Take 3-5 minutes jotting down your ideas)

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT CITATION STYLES? -MLA

• MLA has all of the relevant course/student information on the 1st page with the content.
• In-text citations are shorter than most citations
• Used in most English, Arts, and other related courses.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT CITATION STYLES? - APA

• APA has a Cover Page for all of the relevant information with a Header called a "Running Head"
• Unlike APA, there is more of a focus on giving DATES within in-text citations
• Gender Bias Angle = Avoiding talking about authors in terms of male/female.
• Used in a variety of social sciences, psychology, and health related fields.

Documenting your sources...Getting started

• Book: 1. Author 2. Title 3. Publisher 4. Date 5. Page #
• Online Article:
  • Author
  • Title of Article
  • Title of Source (Journal)
  • Volume/Issue Number
  • Date
  • Page Numbers
  • DOI, URL (these will help someone find the article)
• Video: 1. Organization (if available) 2. Title 3. Source (Youtube, Vimeo) 4. uploaded by, 5. upload date 6. URL
• Website/Blog: 1. Author, contributors, 2. Title of Site/Blog 3. Date of posted content. 4. Web URL 

We will use Langauge Awareness and Purdue OWL for Citation Help

Secondary Source Chart On-Going Research...

What am I looking for in this on-going assignment?

In-Class Activity: Stedman's Source-Writing Pitfall Concepts

Stedman in his article discusses the conventions and guidelines that writers/readers have when reading material that quotes from other sources. Based on your selected criteria or "annoyance" that he discusses, engage in the following:

1. CHOOSE one of Stedman's specific issues in writing with sources. What is the convention about and how would you avoid it? Why is this important to know about?
2. Using a KEY SOURCE that you've found since Monday's class, practice writing a paragraph that integrates your source with your writing and pays attention to avoiding Stedman's pitfalls. (practice with citation, direct quote, etc.)

POST your content under GROUP # & DISCUSS with your group what your source contributes to your writing.

Activity Session - Building your Conversation

• In the upcoming weeks, you will want to build the content in your Secondary Source Chart Assignment (8-12 sources) for working towards the Discourse Community Research Draft. Consider having diverse sources by searching for the following: 
  • A Book (physical or Ebook) on your topic
  • Database Articles from different journals
  • Web Pages or Web Articles online
  • A YouTube Video or Documentary connection
  • A Social Media Page or profile that ties in
  • A Web Blog with relevant content to your research on discourse community

*At some point in class, you will raise your hand and let me see what you've worked on so I can check you off for credit.

Activity Session - Building your Conversation

Partner Pair N' Share

After spending some time finding some other diverse sources debrief with folks around you what types of sources you are finding so far (titles, relevance to your topic, ideas). Use this time to start filling in information to the Secondary Source Chart such as citations or your thoughts on the source for starters.

Helpful Documentation Sites: