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Research Question, Problem, or Issue: Begin
to investigate your topic as soon as you have identified some areas
of interest. Background reading and preliminary library research
can help you narrow and focus your topic so that you can continue
in a specific direction. You may have in mind exactly what you want
to write about and can identify the issue. Sometimes it's helpful
to begin with a research question such as the following:
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Should the city of Virginia Beach impose a curfew
on residents under 18 years old? Or Should the city of Virginia
Beach modify its curfew regulations to _____ [fill in the blank
with possible changes]? What are the primary arguments on both
sides of this issue?
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Should Tidewater Community College charge out-of-state
tuition to members of the military and their families? What
are the primary arguments on both sides of this issue?
- Is Jim in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams kind
or cruel in his treatment of Laura? or By dancing with Laura, Jim
in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams [fill in blank
with the impact].
- Is Big Red in Rodeo by Jane Martin fair in her response
to changes in the rodeo system or is she romanticizing the past?
- Conduct research in appropriate academic resources, using
sources that have been selected and edited by specialists, whether online,
in print, or in multimedia. Read the updated Research
Strategies and Resources for Academic Research for research strategies,
including access to TCC's online resources, which requires establishment
of a proxy password.
- If you're ever uncertain about the acceptability of a particular
source, send a query to the Cyberlounge.
- If you are using the archives of a local newspaper such as the
Virginian-Pilot, you can download articles for free through
TCC's online databases.
- Keep careful records and take accurate notes according to
any method that works for you. Develop a working bibliography,
which is a list of sources that sound promising whether or not you ever
actually locate or use them. Your final bibliography will be headed
Works Cited. A system of Note Cards as described
in most college research writing guides and handbooks remains one of
the most efficient methods. Typing notes into a computer database or
word processor might be more appropriate for some researchers. Be sure
full information about the source accompanies any notes you take.
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Always be sure that you are faithful to
the meaning and context of the original source so that
you do not distort the intention or significance of the original.
In your notes as in your final paper, use summary, paraphrase,
quotation, and combinations correctly. See Selected
Glossary for Academic Research for definitions of these
important concepts.
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When you do quote, be sure to quote accurately.
Place clearly in double quotation marks the entire section
quoted and place in single quotation marks any internal
quotations. Remember that these marks are the only way you'll
know whether the information in your notes is a direct quotation.
If you are quoting material that covers more than a single
page, use a slash / mark to signal to yourself the
page change, just in case your paper uses only a portion
of the quotation. See the sample at Note
Cards.
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Copy all information and punctuation and
capitalization exactly as they appear in the source, including
any errors.
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Signal any errors with [square brackets];
if the error is a fairly obvious spelling error, simply
place [sic] after the term. If you feel it appropriate to
write the correct information or, in some cases, to insert
a comment—called an interpolation—use square brackets
to distinguish your remark from the author's words.
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If you feel it necessary to quote portions
of the original, leaving out words and phrases, use ellipsis
points/marks to signal omissions. Ellipsis points are
not usually necessary for omissions at the beginnings of
sentences or for obvious phrases. Consult a handbook for
correct use of ellipsis points.
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Give yourself credit for your own thinking
and writing by distinguishing clearly between your own thinking
and writing and the thinking and writing of others. The final
paper is a harmonious blend of your own thinking about
the material you have read and illustrations and reinforcement
from your outside sources. No more than 15-20 percent of your
paper should be exact quotations; probably 80 percent or a
little more of your paper will consist of properly cited summaries
and paraphrases of source materials.
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Always follow the scholarly and professional
conventions of the course and field using the guidelines
in your textbook and the writing and documentation guidelines
at Writing Resources and Guides.
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Check and double-check the accuracy of
your source citations:
- Avoid even the appearance of plagiarism by taking the time and
effort to adhere to the scholarly conventions. Students unwilling
and unable to do so send the message that they are not willing and
able to participate in the scholarly community at this time.
for educational use only
Website developed July 1995 by D. Reiss and modified
20 March 2002 by D. Reiss
Active Learning Online
for educational purposes only
developed and copyright ©July 1995 by D. Reiss
modified and copyright ©20 March 2002 by D. Reiss |