Research Writing: Intro Lesson

Research Writing

primary vs. secondary sources, relevant and credible sources, MLA in-text citations, thesis statements

Primary Sources

immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it

Primary Sources

• Texts of laws and other original documents.

• Newspaper reports, by reporters who witnessed an event or who quote people who did.

• Speeches, diaries, letters and interviews - what the people involved said or wrote.

• Photographs, video, or audio that capture an event.

• Artwork

Secondary Sources

one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources.

They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis.

Secondary sources can include:

• Most books about a topic.

• Analysis or interpretation of data.

• Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.

• Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources).

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a primary source?

• a history textbook

• a historical novel about the Civil War

• letters from a Confederate soldier to his wife

• a documentary on the Civil War

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a secondary source?

• pictures of the twin towers falling

• a journal entry from a firefighter who saved people in the north tower on 9/11

• newspaper articles from an 9/11 and 9/12 about the twin towers falling

• a documentary about 9/11

MLA format (in-text citations)

In-text (also called parenthetical) citations come after work taken (either directly or in a paraphrased form) to give credit to the author of the information.

Comes after the quote/paraphrase.

There is not a period inside the quoted material.

There are no punctuation within the parenthesis.

The closing parenthesis is followed by a period.

Examples of MLA in-text (parenthetical) citations

• Comes after the quote/paraphrase.

• There is not a period inside the quoted material.

• There are no punctuation within the parenthesis.

• The closing parenthesis is followed by a period.

Examples of MLA in-text (parenthetical) citations

• "He detested wet autumn weather" (Springer 31).

• Bee hairs are collecting microplastics (Kelly 34).

Multiple Choice

Choose which of the following is a correctly written MLA citation for a direct quote.

• "Dropping a heap of weak-robin roots, Etty darted toward the sound of Rowan in trouble" (Springer 52).

• "Dropping a heap of weak-robin roots, Etty darted toward the sound of Rowan in trouble." (Springer 52).

• "Dropping a heap of weak-robin roots, Etty darted toward the sound of Rowan in trouble." (Springer 52)

• "Dropping a heap of weak-robin roots, Etty darted toward the sound of Rowan in trouble (Springer 52)".

• "Dropping a heap of weak-robin roots, Etty darted toward the sound of Rowan in trouble (Springer 52)."

Multiple Choice

Choose which of the following is a correctly written MLA citation for a paraphrase.

• Not quitting is usually the difference between winning and losing. (Disney 32)

• Not quitting is usually the difference between winning and losing (Disney 32)

• Not quitting is usually the difference between winning and losing (Disney 32).

• Not quitting is usually the difference between winning and losing. (Disney 32).

Credible

sources can be believed or trusted

Multiple Choice

True or false:

A National Geographic article about honeybees would be a credible source when looking at the life of a honeybee.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False:

Wikipedia is a credible source for information about the white elephants in Asia.

• True

• False

Relevant

sources are those pertinent (fitting) to your topic

Multiple Choice

True or false:

A National Geographic article about honeybees would be a relevant source when looking at the life of a great white shark.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or false:

A section about the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin in a World Book Yearbook is relevant when researching information about a U.S. fast-attack Seawolf submarine.

• True

• False

Biased

Unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.

Truthfully, everyone has biases and preferences, but we need to realize when they change the truth.

Bias

Being aware of bias and knowing how to identify, analyze, and assimilate biased information properly is a skill to be treasured.

It puts you in charge of how you think instead of the print and media world. 

Questions to check bias of information

• What facts has the author omitted?

• What impression would I have if different words had been used?

• What words create positive or negative impressions?

• What additional information is necessary?

Multiple Select

Check all that apply that would lead you to think a source is biased.

• The language of the document is often extreme; statements have all or nothing connotations.

• The argument appeals more to the emotions than to logic.

• Things are worded with the intent to oversimplify or over generalize.

• The author wishes to present a limited view of the topic.

• The information is straight forward with no appeals to emotion.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are quesitons you should ask yourself in regards to a source being biased? (Website, social media, newspaper, book, etc.)

• What is the author's political point of view?

• Why does this article show up on the top hits on Google?

• What does the author stand to gain?

• Who is paying for the website?

• Does the author present alternate points of view? (If so, are those views presented objectively, or with scorn?)