How to Narrow a Research Topic 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic When your research topic is too broad, ask yourself these questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic Lets see how this works with an example: eating disorders This topic is too broad (general) to write about in a short paper. We need to make it narrower (more specific). 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic Who? TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Populations Age Gender Race or Ethnicity NEW TOPIC: Eating disorders in elderly females 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic What? TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Types Anorexia Bulimia Compulsive eating NEW TOPIC: Anorexia in elderly females 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic When? TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Timeframes Current or historical view Period of life NEW TOPIC: Bulimia in middle- aged females 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic Where? TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Places States Regions Countries NEW TOPIC: Anorexia in Australian women 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic Why? TOPIC: EATING DISORDERS Evaluate Causes Treatments Outcomes NEW TOPIC: Successful methods for treatment of compulsive eating 2007, OSU Libraries, Instruction Office How to Narrow a Research Topic Mix n Match Combine any number of elements that you derive from asking these questions until you find an interesting topic to research. Some examples: Causes and treatment of anorexia in college athletes Prevalence of bulimia in teen-age males in the United States Changes in treatment for compulsive overeaters, 1950-present. Thesis Statements What is a thesis statement? O A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. O It is the point you want to argue or support in an essay. SO O The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay, and the writers opinion on that idea. Thesis Placement A thesis statement is usually one sentence. It is often placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay. Your Argument O A thesis statement is a claim that could be argued. O The essay will contain evidence and opinions that support the argument. Thesis statements avoid the following: first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.) Unclear/vague language (It seems, etc.) attempting two topics at once (even if they seem related). Pick one and stick with it. just stating a fact - A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about. A thesis statement should O contain a topic (main idea of what you are writing about) O contain an opinion about the topic (what your attitude is toward the topic) A thesis statement should not be too broad. Too Broad The world is a magnificent place to live. Better Good teachers make Mountain City Elementary a fantastic school. Which sentence is too broad to be a good thesis statement? A. One reason to live in Mountain City is access to many wonderful places to fish. B. Mountain City is a great place to live. Too Broad Mountain City is a great place to live. A thesis statement should not be too wordy. Wordy Some problems with Mountain City Elementary School is that it needs a larger playground, an air conditioned gym, an auditorium, restrooms connected to each classroom, running water in the classrooms, and a number of other physical changes to the building. Better Mountain City Elementary needs several changes to its facility to make it a better school. Which sentence is too wordy to be a good thesis statement? A. Abe Lincoln was one of the best presidents the United States has ever known. B. Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the 16 th President of the United States, a liberator of slaves, and united the North and South at the end of the American Civil War. Too Wordy Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the 16 th President of the United States, a liberator of slaves, and united the North and South at the end of the American Civil War. A thesis statement should not be too general. Too general Mountain City Elementary is a good school. Better Daily writing practice has led to improved writing skills for the students at Mountain City Elementary. Which sentence is too general to be a good thesis statement? A. Music makes people happy. B. Music therapy is useful in relieving stress and other conditions. Too general Music makes people happy. A thesis statement should not be a title. A title Cost of Living Better The cost of living in Mountain City is lower than in most other cities in the United States. Which sentence would not be a good thesis statement because it is a title? A. Good teaching has led to an increase in TCAP scores at Mountain City Elementary. B. Rising TCAP Scores at Mountain City Elementary A Title Rising TCAP Scores at Mountain City Elementary A thesis statement should not be a a fact. A fact The average temperature for Mountain City in winter is 34 and in summer is 75 degrees. Better The climate in Mountain City is ideal for outdoor sports. Which sentence would not be a good thesis statement because it is a fact? A. The recycling of one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. B. Recycling is one of the most important jobs a person can do to protect our environment. A Fact The recycling of one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours. More Practice Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. Although most people believe otherwise, bats are harmless and highly beneficial. Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. In this essay I will discuss the crime rate in Mountain City. Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. Energetic exercise is a good way to help relieve stress. Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. Mountain City and Boone differ in many ways. Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. This paper will consider the advantages and disadvantages of students having nightly homework. Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement. Hate speech should be eliminated for many reasons. Use your thumbs up/thumbs down cards to rate the following thesis statements. If it is a well-written, concise thesis statement, give it a thumbs up. If it is weak, give it a thumbs down. Good or Bad 1. Many people do not like to watch violent horror movies. 2. Todays movies do not have the emotional impact of the classic horror movies of the 1940s. Good or Bad 3. Rap music is the best music ever. 4. Although many people find rap music offensive, it has had a positive impact on todays youth. Good or Bad 5. I enjoy white water rafting. 6. The first white water rafting trip can challenge a person both in body and spirit. Good or Bad 7. Sixth grade students are busy. 8. The life of a typical sixth grade student is challenging due to the need to succeed in extracurricular activities. Good or Bad 9. Community service projects include building shelter for the homeless, servicing meals to the hungry, providing transportation for the sick, distributing clothes, and a large number of other helpful activities. 10. Students should help others who are less fortunate. Primary and Secondary Sources What is going on in this photo? What questions does it raise? Why do we use primary sources in history? No bias, no viewpoint Only your interpretation Can give additional information Materials Textures Printing methods Technologies What is a Primary Source? Autobiographies Diaries Documents Eyewitness accounts Film footage Laws Letters Newspaper articles Novels Objects from the time Oral histories Photographs Poems, art, music Speeches An informational source from the time of the event Does a Primary Source have to be the original material? No it can be in another form, but it cant be edited or interpreted in any way. For example, Patrick Henrys Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death! speech can be found in 100 Key Documents in American History Questions to ask yourself when looking at Primary Sources Who wrote this? How do they know the information they are telling me? When did they write it? Why did they write it? Who did they write it for? What are Secondary Sources? An informational source that analyzes the event. These sources often use several primary sources to compile the information. Biographies Encyclopedias History books Textbooks Are Secondary Sources useful? Yes They provide the necessary background or context to be able to interpret Primary Sources For example, World Book 2005 or your Social Studies textbook can provide background information about the events leading up to Revolutionary War. Beware of Bias! Is it possible for a Secondary Source to be completely objective? Wikipedias entry on President Bush The following passage describes his National Guard service: In May 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War, he entered the Texas Air National Guard. He trained in the guard for two years, where he was among the last to learn to fly the F-102, a plane not used in Vietnam and due to be retired. While this could be true, why would it be important to know that he was among the last to learn to fly the F-102? Is this a commentary on President Bush flying an outdated plane? Is it an unbiased point of view? Encartas entry on President Bush (note that Encarta lets people edit its pages but with editor approval) Upon completing college, [Bush] became eligible for the military draft. To meet his service obligation, Bush enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard in He told the admitting officer that he wanted to become a pilot like his father, who was a highly decorated Navy flier in World War II. He did his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and entered a pilot-training program at Moody Air Force Base Georgia. He received favorable reports from his superiors, attained the rank of second lieutenant, and was certified to fly the F-102 jet fighter during training missions in the South and along the Gulf Coast. Encarta doesnt mention that President Bush being one of the last to fly the F-102, and instead notes patriotically how President Bush wanted to fly a jet like his father. Evaluating Sources: A Checklist Ask yourself questions about 5 key areas: Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency (how current is it?) Coverage Evaluation Practice: Try out the checklist with the following web sites Searching for info on ALD: Searching for info on novelist Henry James:What happens if you go to:Does this affect credibility? Searching for info on Dells Marketing strategies:4/05/03/dell-marketing-strategies/ Searching for information on dangerous chemical compounds: Evaluating Your Own Sources Apply the checklist questions to evaluate potential sources for your future research papers. Integrating Useful Information After youve constructed your argument, you must: Decide how to present information within your research paper Make your voice heard Give proper credit to the original source Quoting Paraphrasing + Your Analysis Summarizing What is Paraphrasing? Paraphrasing is stating an idea in your own words To properly paraphrase, you must significantly change the wording, phrasing, and sentence structure of the source (not just a few words) Follow your paraphrase with an in-text citation and cite the source in your Works Cited page (MLA format) or References page (APA format) What is Summarizing? Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material. Again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to their original sources. Summarize when: You want to establish background or offer an overview of a topic You want to describe knowledge (from several sources) about a topic You want to determine the main ideas of a single source What is Quoting? Quotations are the exact words of an author, copied directly from a source, word for word. Quotations must be cited in your text and in your Works Cited page (MLA format) or References page (APA format) Use quotations when: You want to add the power of an authors words to support your argument You want to disagree with an authors argument You want to highlight particularly eloquent or powerful phrases or passages You are comparing and contrasting specific points of view You want to note the important research that precedes your own (Rohrbach and Valenza cited in What is Plagiarism?) Introducing Quotes Use signal phrases: The author arguesobservesinsists writescountersreveals points outimpliesexplains concludesstatessuggests commentsclaimsmaintains notesdemonstratessays According to (author, character,narrator) For a complete list of signal phrases, visit the following website:_Handout.pdf Integrating Quotes Combine your analysis with a full or partial quotation In The Magnolia Tree, Jakes failure to find his purpose in life is symbolized by the deterioration of the family tree: Its trunk leaned against Dads tool shed, and the branches bore no flowers despite the early spring (Walker 32). In Walkers essay The Magnolia Tree, the ailing branches that bore no flowers despite the early spring symbolize the narrators failure to find purpose in life (32). Dont Drop, Integrate! A dropped quote is a quote that isnt integrated into the paper. Often, the quote is incorrectly presented in a sentence by itself: In How to Write a Research Paper, Johnson reports that a common form of plagiarism is copying and pasting text from the Internet without giving credit to the source. Students dont realize that computer programs, such as Turnitin, help teachers catch plagiarism (32). Thats why its so important that students know how to properly summarize, paraphrase, and quote material(Smythe 12). What are some strategies to improve this paragraph? Formatting Longer Quotations In MLA format, quotes over four lines should be flush indented one inch (10 spaces) from the left margin, double spaced, without quotation marks: Nelly Dean belittles Heathcliff throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78) In APA format, quotes over 40 words should follow the same indentation format. The citation contains the author, year, and page number, such as (Smith, 2003, p. 42). Shortening Lengthy Quotations Consider shortening your quote with an ellipse (three spaced periods), if you can do so without changing the sources original meaning Quote: Felix, my love, my all, my sweet, if you find it in your heart to forgive me, and to do so would make my heart pound with ferocity, I will guarantee that my father, the noblest of all kings, will give you a large reward (Graw 53). Shortened: Felix, my love,if you find it in your heart to forgive me,I guarantee that my father, the noblest of all kings, will give you a large reward (Graw 53). Do not use an ellipse if you begin using the quote mid-sentence: When Genevieve states, if you find it in your heart to forgive me Quoting Poetry If you quote two to three lines of poetry, separate each line with a slash (with a space before and after the slash) and enclose the entire quotation in quotation marks: Reflecting on the "incident" in Baltimore, Cullen concludes, "Of all the things that happened there / That's all that I remember" (lines 11-12). Quotations more than three lines should be indented one inch from the left margin, double-spaced between lines, adding no quotation marks that do not appear in the original: Elizabeth Bishop's "In the Waiting Room" is rich in evocative detail: It was winter. It got dark early. The waiting room was full of grown-up people, arctics and overcoats, lamps and magazines. (lines 6-10) Why Paraphrase Instead of Quoting? Think of quotation marks as double scissors, - -- literally cutting out and lifting information into your paper. If the exact words of the author are not important, think about paraphrasing Quoting vs. Paraphrasing contd. Look at the differences in the following examples: Aliens have been found to inhabit the craggy surface of the moon (Smith, 2000). vs. Aliens were discovered on the moon (Smith, 2000). Does exact wording make a difference? Quoting vs. Paraphrasing contd. The reference to mythology in the garden calls to mind the clash of Paganism with Christianity where Medusa may rear her ugly head over Adam and Eve (Doe 65). vs. References to garden imagery symbolize the Garden of Eden and Christianity, whereas mythology may refer to Paganism (Doe 65). Although the author may have a reason for paraphrasing, the paraphrase does lose something in the translation. In Review: When to Paraphrase To clarify a short passage from a text To avoid overusing quotations For use when exact wording isnt important To explain the main points of a passage For use when reporting numerical data or specific facts (preferred in APA papers) How to Paraphrase: Practice Original Passage: James D. Lester explains, Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only 10 % of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes (qtd. in Paraphrase: Write it in Your Own Words). Now, try paraphrasing this passage (Try not to look at the screen while you write) How Did You Do? An Acceptable paraphrase: According to James Lester, in research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoting down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (cited in Paraphrase: Write it in Your Own Words). A Plagiarized Version: Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably 10 percent of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes. Tips For Note-Taking Identify the speakers/writers name. Mark direct quotes or unique phrases taken from your original sources with a big Q Note a paraphrase with a big P Include page numbers and source references so you can go back and check for accuracy as you write. Why Should You Document Carefully? Failure to correctly cite, summarize, paraphrase, or use quotations could result in PLAGIARISM! Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional presentation of another sources words, ideas, or images as your own Plagiarism could result in an F grade for the paper and/or the class, as well as expulsion from the university Students who plagiarize at George Mason violate the Honor Code and must attend a hearing to determine the consequences The George Mason Honor Code Defines plagiarism as: Presenting as one's own the words, the work, or the opinions of someone else without proper acknowledgment. Borrowing the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought of someone else without proper acknowledgment. See the Undergraduate Catalog or visit the Honor Code online atfor more information Does that mean EVERYTHING in my paper needs to be quoted? The Following do NOT have to be documented Facts that are widely known to the general public Information or judgments considered common knowledge Facts widely known to your particular discipline Examples of Common Knowledge John Adams was the second president The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 If you see a fact in three or more sources, and you are fairly certain your readers already know this information, it is likely to be common knowledge WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE IT! Citation: Giving Credit to the Source After youve decided how to use the information, its time to give proper credit to the outside source. You must cite sources within your paper and at the end of your paper whenever You summarize, paraphrase or quote an original idea from a source, even if you use only one distinctive word You use factual information that is not common knowledge to the general public or to your particular discipline (not sure? cite it) You use charts, graphs, photos, or any artwork from a source You are citing statistics, evidence, or data from other than your own experiments WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE IT! Choosing a Style: APA, MLA and Chicago Although there are many different styles for citation, three of the most common are: APA (American Psychology Association) MLA (Modern Language Association) Chicago (The Chicago Manual of Style) Which Style Should You Use? APA is often used for the disciplines of Psychology and other fields in which the currency of a study is most important MLA is often used in English or other fields where the currency of a text is not as important as identifying the page number of the information Chicago is often preferred in History and many other fields. At George Mason, it is also the preferred citation style in the School of Management Other Styles Other styles not discussed in this workshop include: Turabian CBE Legal Citation Check with your Professor if you are unsure which style to use for your discipline Citation Handouts The following handouts on APA, MLA and Chicago will answer most basic questions on how to cite sources in either style. Quiz Think youre a citation wizard? Take our Citation Challenge Question #1 Which is the only of the three citation styles that uses footnotes, rather than in-text citation? A.) APA B.) MLA C.) Chicago Answer to Question #1 C.) Chicago Chicago style permits numbered footnotes or endnotes in your text, with a Bibliography or Works Cited list at the end of the paper, listing alphabetically the sources in your notes Question #2 A URL referenced in MLA should look like: A)OR B). Answer to #2 B.) In MLA you use when recording the URL in order to indicate that the website information is complete and hasnt been cut- off (In APA you do not use slanting brackets) Question #3 Which style of citation (MLA or APA) uses commas to separate information in the internal citations? Answer to #3 MLA does not use commas, basic format includes author and pg. # without a comma Ex. (Smith 120). APA uses commas to separate information in internal citations that appear at the end of statements. Ex (Smith, 2000). Or ---- (Smith, 2000,p.120). Question #4 In APA internal citations, where does the date of publication go? Answer to #4 If the author name appears in the signal phrase (such as According to Smith...) the date appears directly afterward in parenthesis. Ex. According to Smith (2000), If the author name is not mentioned it goes at the end of the statement Ex (Smith, 2000). Documentation and Citation Activity Put your new skills to use! (each packet includes a popular and scholarly source) Complete the Following: Read over the outline of your paper Decide how to document (what to quote and/or paraphrase Create proper internal citations for that info Create a mini- Works Cited Page for your 2 sources Evaluate, Document, Integrate, and Cite! Use the Evaluation Checklist to identify proper sources Make decisions about how best to use outside source information in your papers Refer to your APA and MLA resources on how to properly create internal citations and a reference list (or Works Cited) for a variety of different sources Research Process 1. Open your research paper from your Home Folder 2. Finalize your paper (include in-text citations AND update your works cited list) Use links from Edmodo.com if needed 3. When you are finished: Upload paper to Edmodo.com Print paper Print Works Cited Complete Mastery Quiz on Edmodo.com 1.Upload Paper to Edmodo.com 2.Print Paper and Works Cited. Staple and turn it in. 3.Complete Mastery Quiz on Edmodo.com 4.Visit the sites and read the notes on: https://nemsgoldeneagles.wikispaces.com /