RESEARCH SKILLS

Research Process

Big 6 Research Process• Define your topic

• Identify sources

• Locate sources

• Analyze Information

• Synthesize Information

• Evaluate your work

**Not A

LinearProcess

Define your topic• Topic Sentence:• The Oklahoma City Bombing changed the idea of

terrorism by introducing the act of ‘domestic terrorism’ to the United States.

• Keywords from your statement:– Oklahoma City Bombing (aka “Alfred P. Murrah

Building”)– Terrorism– Domestic Terrorism (aka “Homegrown Terrorism”)– United States and Terrorism

DEFINE YOUR TOPIC

• Spend ample time on first step in order to formulate a good research question

• Pre-research– Check reference resources (encyclopedias,

almanacs, etc.)– Provides a good foundation upon which to build

• Well begun is half done!

IDENTIFY SOURCES

• Step 2 aligns with personal pathfinders

–What do I need? • Books - reference and non-fiction• Databases – subject-specific or general• Websites – academic-approved search engines

• **Depending on your topic, you also might go to museums, historical societies, presidential libraries or use speeches, government documents, etc. (i.e. “underground railroad”)

LOCATE SOURCES

– Where can I find this information?– Books:

• Notre Dame Library (library catalog)• Public Library (online library catalog)

– DATABASES:• Notre Dame Library Website

– WEBSITES:• Nettrekker (educator-approved)• WebPath Express in Library Catalog

ANALYZE VS. SYNTHESIZE

• Read what others have to say• Direct Quote• Paraphrase

– Organize this information

– Now, what do you have to say?• Original Thought

EVALUATION

• Evaluation is a type of self-assessment– Conducted before and after turning assignment in.

Before• Did I support my thesis statement?• Have I proofread my work?• Have I checked it against the Rubric?

After• What could I have done better?• What would I do different if I did it again?