Research Search Strategy

Some Helpful Guidlines


Choosing a Topic:

1. Choose a subject of inteest to you. You will find it makes the writing process a lot easier.
2. Be practical. Consider time, length, and availability of information on the subject.
3. Choose a topic for which resources are available to you, and one that is appropriate for your audience.
Generating Ideas

Think about what it is you want to investigate. Brainstorm, take notes, interview somone, talk to your instructor, or come to the Writing Center.
Utilizing Sources

An effective search often begins with the most general reference sources:

Journals
Electronic Searches
Government Publications
Almanacs
Dictionaries
Periodical Indexes/Articles

These are published quarterly, monthly, or dailyintervals and have the most up to date information.remember it is important to validate your sources!

Checklist for Evaluating a Print Source

1. who wrote it and is it authoritative? Check encyclopedias, textbooks, and academic journals.For infromation in your authours crediabilty, if the author or the specific work is mentioned often, that source is probably reliable.

2. Are information and arguments well supported? Check that each source supports assertions or information with sufficient evidence. Be wary of a source that offers little to back up a position.

3. Is the tone balanced? Approach a source critically. If the source·s tone is unbiased and the reasoning logical, the source is most likely reliable.

4. Is it current? Make sure the information is up to date. Long accepted information is sometimes replaced or modified by new research. Check the library·s catalogs and indexes to journals; the most recent information in any field appears first in that field·s academic journals. 



Online Search

Browsing on-line may help in your research efforts. You may find source material and consult databases online.
When conducting an online search use a search engine, such as www.altavista.com , www.yahoo.com , www.askjeeves.com , or www.google.com .

Once again, you need to make sure online sources are reliable.
Here is checklist for evaluating an on-line source:

Reliable
Unreliable
Author has Credentials
Junk Mail/Chat rooms
Ebsochost Peer Reviewed Articles
Commercial Web sites
Education and Government Web sites
Unupdated material


All information referenced: Decisions A Writer's Handbook, Leonard J. Rosen