Matakuliah
Tahun
Versi
: G1112, Scientific Writing I
: 2006
: v 1.0 rev 1
Module 4
Research
1
What’s inside
1. Hunting for resources and recording
the information
2. Understand the types of resources
3. Critically read and evaluate the
sources
4. Note-take effectively
2
Introduction
With tentative thesis statement or research
question in hand, you've got what will likely
become the focal point of your paper. You
have a focus, a goal, a purpose--in
essence, the bones of your essay. But
now you need flesh for those bones; that's
where research comes in.
3
To conduct research, follow the advice in
these three important steps:
1. Understand the types of resources
2. Critically read and evaluate those
sources
3. Note-take effectively
4
Types of Resources
There are two types of support: primary and
secondary. The names refer to the degree
of "distance" to the topic.
5
Types of Resources
A primary source is an original document
or account that is not about another document or
account but stands on its own. For example, any
novel, poem, play, diary, letter, or other creative
work is a primary source. The data from a
research study also constitutes a primary source
because it comes straight from the participants'
replies. Interviews, not of experts but of people
actually experiencing something "on the scene,"
are also primary sources. If you were doing a
paper on the emotional effects of job loss,
talking to someone who just lost their job would
be about as close to your topic as you could get.
That's what we mean by distance.
6
Types of Resources
So how do you research primary
sources?
• Texts: Once you have an argument in mind, reread them. Highlight,
underline, scribble in the margins, or use sticky notes to pick out
what you need. Attune yourself to the text with the different angle
you've chosen to write about. Remember, this time you won't be
reading for comprehension (i.e., what is the plot of the story), but for
specific examples that support your gut feeling about how or why
something is going on in the story. Be sure to note down glaring
contradictory evidence too. You'll need to acknowledge that in your
paper or else revise your thesis depending on how strong the
counter-evidence turns out to be.
• Interviews: When you're not trying to sell someone something,
people are very willing to talk and share. Ask around and locate
someone through your network of friends and family (maybe the
your cousin's boss' sister just settled a court case on an issue you're
exploring). If that doesn't pan out, look in the phonebook or the
Internet for professional associations where you can often get in
touch with people in a particular field.
7
Types of Resources
Secondary sources are ones that interpret
primary sources or are otherwise a step
removed. A journal article or book about a poem,
novel, or play or a commentary about what an
interview signifies is a secondary source. Your
paper will likewise become a secondary source.
8
Types of Resources
So how do you research Secondary
sources?
• Start with a book search if appropriate. Go to your
campus library (public libraries cater more to popular interests than
academic ones) and head for the online catalog
• Journal articles can be as valuable as books for most
disciplines. Leafing through an academic journal, written by and for
professionals in a given field, is like entering a conversation
between experts. Journals go into much greater depth and target a
more specific, educated audience than do the popular magazines at
your local convenience store.
• The Web is another great tool, but use it carefully. Anyone can
post information on the Internet and anyone can change what is up
there, bringing up questions of authority and validity.
9
Types of Resources
Besides primary texts, interviews, books,
journals, and the Web, there are a myriad
other sources you can use such as
microfilm, microfiche, specialized CDROMs, and census reports.
10
Critically read and evaluate the
sources
Structure
• If you're starting with a book, look at the table of contents. See the
shape of what's to come and identify places that your thesis or
question might be most directly addressed. Notice the subsections.
Is there anything very obviously missing?
• Skim the Preface or Introduction to establish context for the
discussion and determine the author's intent. The author's thesis
statement just may pop up here; be on the lookout for it. Or, it may
be implied; if so, why?
• Glance at any appendices, diagrams, tables, or figures and see
what kinds of things make it into the Endnotes section if there is one.
Look at the topics listed in the Index at the back. Which of the
entries has the most page numbers listed next to it?
• For a journal article, read the "abstract" for a summary. If it seems to
address your question or thesis, then read the Background or
Introduction section which will normally have some kind of "literature
review" or summary of what others have said.
11
Critically read and evaluate the
sources
Purpose
Examine the title and first few paragraphs. What is the
author trying to do? What is his or her bias? Any
assumptions to be challenged? Look at the publisher or
institutional/organizational affiliation of the author. Does
the person have a vested interest in swaying you one
way or another? A book on management style will be
markedly different if it comes from some corporate
management committee compared to union
representatives. It would even be different presented by
a professor of economics rather than a professor
specializing in human relations and organizational
psychology. Authors should be upfront about the angles
they take in their discussions. Is yours?
12
Critically read and evaluate the
sources
Audience
Who does the intended audience appear to be?
How narrow or broad is it? To answer this, look
at stylistic choices such as diction and tone. For
instance, are there a lot of technical words? If
so, look them up. And finally, what stake does
the target audience have in the issue? In other
words, why would the audience be reading the
text? Who would you be imagining yourself
talking to in your paper?
13
Critically read and evaluate the
sources
Author
Who is the author? Is it someone your professor has
mentioned or whom you've come across in your course
readings? Has the person been mentioned in other texts
or bibliographies of other texts? Presence in the
scholarly community is one of the ways to establish
authority. Another is education and/or expertise. Is the
person a teacher or researcher from a reputable
academic institution? Does the person have
considerable knowledge of what he or she is talking
about? Is the author respected and well-received? You
wouldn't let just anyone off the street walk into your
home, so make your sources establish rapport and trust
with you before you just let them walk on into your
research paper.
14
Note-take effectively
• What should my notes look like? The point-form or
sentences debate (on loose-leaf or on 3x5 index cards for easy shuffling) is
simply a matter of preference. Some students are comfortable with points;
others prefer summarizing and paraphrasing right into rough sentences to
make drafting easier.
• So what should I write down?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anything and everything that will flesh out your thesis statement or research question.
Contradictory information. Analytical papers often include opposing views and even
for argumentative papers, acknowledging an opposing viewpoint that is easily
disproved by its counterpoint is always a good rhetorical tool.
One or two key sources.
Bibliography of all the sources you consult. Begin jotting one down as soon as you
begin researching so that you won't forget when it comes time to draft the paper (a
common error and stress-inducer).
The call number of a book, the search terms you entered into any database, and any
URLs (web site addresses) for online information come in handy for easy RE-access
to a resource should something come in question later on.
In short, throw out nothing! And date it all too. Again, it doesn't matter that you may
not need all the info you write down.
15