Dr. Karen Palmer

In the Evaluation section of this text, you started with your own opinion and then did some research to find evidence that you could use to add credibility and support to your evaluation. As I noted in that chapter, this is not generally how the writing process works. In this section of the text, we’ll be following the correct process. This means that you don’t form an argument until AFTER you’ve done your research. Your research should be a process of discovery–learning as much as you can about a topic so that you can make an informed argument about it.

An added benefit of this process is that you won’t have to search for quotes to support your argument. Why? Because your argument will be based on what you’ve researched, so you’ll have already gathered your evidence as you completed your research. This is perhaps more important than most students realize. In over 25 years of teaching composition, the stumbling block that creates the most aggravation for students is the inability to “find quotes” to support their argument. Invariably, these students have collected sources without reading them, so their argument is not based on anything they’ve researched. Instead of simply being able to reach back and pull in quotes that informed their ideas in the first place, they are having to search for other people who support their ideas–and sometimes those people simply don’t exist because the arguments being made are uninformed. Trust me–you will save a LOT of time and frustration by doing research the right way!

Research Process

Once you have a solid topic, you should begin researching. Research at the university level requires expertise on a topic that is build from research drawing from a wide variety of sources. The YC Library is a wonderful source of information, with articles and even whole books accessible completely online. In addition, there are many reputable websites from which credible information can be gleaned.

As you research, I want you to remember that your goal is to find out more about the social problem, your non-profit, and how they are trying to solve the problem. Many students begin research simply by looking for quotes that will support their own opinions. This method does not create good arguments! Before you begin researching, write down some questions you have about the organization you chose and the problem it solves. Do your best to find the answers to those questions in your research. Think of yourself as a detective, trying to locate all the information you can about the social problem and the non-profit organization you’ve chosen.

For YC students, the YC Library has many wonderful resources to help you with your research.

Types of Sources

Both print and internet sources may be utilized effectively in an academic argument. Depending on the situation, one type of source might be more effective than another type. For example, when discussing the Civil War, print sources will probably be the most effective. But, when discussing the whole foods movement, internet sources like the Weston Price Foundation might be more effective. The key is to find a diversity of sources, both in type and viewpoint. Diversity in your research will lead to balance in your argument, which, in turn, will lead to credibility with your audience.

Whether print or online, sources are generally sorted into three categories: Scholarly, Trade, and Popular. In the following video, an example of a popular, trade, and scholarly article is presented. Note that all three articles are shown in their online locations:

The following chart demonstrates some key characteristics of the three types of sources. While the images shared here are from print publications, note that most, if not all, of them, are also available online.

Determining the type of sources that are appropriate for your project is important. In some cases, the context of your project will define the acceptable sources. For example, in a doctoral dissertation, typically only peer-reviewed scholarly articles are acceptable. However, in a review of a restaurant, for example, scholarly articles will not be as helpful as popular and trade sources like magazines, websites, and even social media sites. It’s important to carefully consider what type of information you need, along with the context of your project.

For your research on a non-profit, their website and even social media channels can be valuable sources of information. At the same time, scholarly articles will provide the most reliable information on the social problem.

Scholarly Sources: Databases

Scholarly articles can be located in the YC Library. In fact, the YC Databases will prove to be your most important research tool over the course of your academic career, with scholarly resources becoming more and more important as you progress in your education. With the databases, you can find credible, academic sources online right from your computer. The databases even include a citation shortcut! ProQuest is one of the most comprehensive databases. Please complete the following tutorial for ProQuest.

Evaluating Sources

As mentioned previously, the quality of your sources is an important factor in establishing your credibility with your audience. The following are important factors to consider when evaluating sources, particularly online sources.

1. Relevance  Is the source relevant to your topic? For example, if I were to write an essay about creating a community garden on a college campus, a source relating the history of community gardens might be relevant, but one discussing the creation of a campus garden might be even more relevant to my topic.
2. Reliability Reliable sources provide verifiable information. Sources that do not give citations or references are not reliable because the information given cannot be verified. In written sources, documentation is usually provided within the text and in a references page, as well. While internet sources may not have a Works Cited or References page, they often have documentation incorporated, often through including hyperlinks to the source itself.
3. Credibility The credibility of a source can be determined in many ways. A quick way to rule out a source as credible is to check for spelling and grammatical errors. Another is to look for logical fallacies and author bias. Does the author make reasonable claims, support them with reliable evidence, and appear to treat any opposing voices with respect?
4. Timeliness Check the date the source was published. If the topic is very current, older sources may not add useful information. If the topic is historical, older sources may help put the issue in perspective. For example, a 1997 report on elderly drivers may or may not be helpful in an argument about elderly drivers 23 years later in 2020. However, a newspaper article published during the Civil War might provide valuable information on how the war was perceived by the people experiencing it.
5. Diversity Does the author utilize sources that all come from the same website, for example, or sources all written by the same author, or does the author’s work contain references from a wide variety of perspectives?

Important Tips to Remember

1. If you do have a controversial topic (now or in the future), instead of searching for sources that support your point of view, try finding the most credible sources you can to prove you’re wrong. Read those sources with an open mind–with the goal to LEARN from someone else, not simply to refute their arguments. This practice will challenge you to better articulate your own position, help you better understand other perspectives, and, ultimately, make your argument stronger. Remember, there are many people who are more educated and more researched than you who disagree with you and have good reasons for doing so. Perhaps there is something important for you to consider in their position.

2. Pay attention to the language used in your sources and in your own paper. If you find that the argument is based only on emotion, on hearsay, or resorts to name calling (ie “Those who don’t agree with this position are… ignorant or uneducated or biased or right-wing or left-wing, etc), chances are the argument is not valid at all. The strongest arguments are based on verifiable facts. Make sure both your supporting sources AND your own argument are supported with strong factual evidence, rather than name-calling or generalizations.

Here’s the thing…we are all biased in some way. And that isn’t a bad thing–it means that we are individuals with unique experiences and backgrounds that have informed our values. However, knowing and acknowledging our own biases is just as important as understanding the biases present in our research. If you know you have a strong position on an issue, you can be more aware of how you evaluate arguments that both support (be sure that you aren’t accepting the argument just because you agree with it!) and counter (be sure that you aren’t dismissing the argument just because you don’t agree) your own stance.

Keeping a Research Journal

As you research, it’s important to keep a record of the information you find. It might not seem difficult to remember a handful of sources, but, as you continue on in your academic career, you may have a source list of 10, 20, or even more sources for a single paper. Getting in the habit of keeping track of your sources by using a research journal will help you to keep your information organized and make writing your paper much less work.

Keeping a research journal is simple. First, create a new Word document. As you do your research, take note of the correct citation of each source. Write a short summary of the source, including any important notes (ie this source contains a lot of data). Finally, write any quotes that stand out. Make sure to put the quotes in quotation marks and add the in-text citation at the end of the quote. That way, when you are writing your paper, you can easily copy and paste in a quote from a source with no worries about plagiarism!

Here is a Sample Research Journal compiled by Dr. Palmer in class:

Research Scavenger Hunt

Another fun option for completing your research is to do a research scavenger hunt. The following exercise allows you to take on the role of a detective, finding important information about your non-profit and the problem it solves. In addition, it requires citation information and asks that you record answers to questions. If you want to ensure that you are taking the time to read each source and that you are getting the most out of your research, this method might work better for you than the Research Journal.

 

Annotated Bibliography

Another way students are often asked to record their research is an Annotated Bibliography. In an annotated bibliography, a writer includes certain information about each source he/she plans to use in his/her paper. The Annotated Bibliography should include the following:

• The correct citation of the source as it would appear in the Works Cited page
• A summary of the source
• An evaluation of the source–this includes information about how the source adds to the author’s understanding of the topic and/or how the author might utilize this source in the final paper, as well as thoughts about the reliability, credibility, etc of the source.

Watch this short video for a quick overview of what an annotated bibliography is and how to correctly format one (note: you do not need to download the template):

Here’s a template you can use for your Bibliography:

You may also use one of the following templates. Please be sure to follow instructions from your professor–many professors require that students use Word.

• Google Template (make a copy)
• Word Template (Don’t include topic/thesis–just the heading. Note that this template does not include the required sources headings)

Here’s a sample Annotated Bibliography based on a non-profit called Rainbow Acres. Please note that this is a less formal version than demonstrated in the video above. This example also includes mini-headings in bold so that the instructor can see at a glance that the bibliography includes the five types of sources required.