Unit 1 discussion

CJ4600_U1_SI2_Chapter3.pptx

Selecting a Topic and Beginning the Preliminary Search

Lesson Topics—Chapters 3

Select a Topic

Hone in on the Latest Research

Organize the Search Results to Identify Gaps

Create Spreadsheet to Compile Your Notes, but Remain Flexible

Assemble the Articles Relevant to Your Topic and Compose a Topic Statement

Summary and Discussion

Select Your Topic

Choose a general topic and search the database

Using keywords, modify the search results, as appropriate

Use narrower keywords to limit results, if necessary

Use broader keywords to expand results, if you have too few results

Hone in on the Latest Research

Try to identify the very latest available research

Look for unpublished conference papers written by established published authors

Find review articles and theoretical articles from the leading journals in your field

Identify the landmark or classic studies on your subject area

Assemble the Articles Relevant to Your Topic and Compose a Topic Statement

Assemble and preview the collection of relevant sources you have identified

Compose a topic statement

Use as much prose as you need to describe your intended topic, as much as several sentences

Refine your topic based on the sources you have collected and previewed

Ask your instructor, or a fellow student, for feedback

Organize the Search Results to Identify Gaps

Scan each article to get an overview of its contents

Group the articles by categories

When you see gaps, conduct a more focused search of the database

Create a Spreadsheet to Compile Your Notes, but Remain Flexible

Create a spreadsheet to compile your notes

Make sure to collect complete citations for each source (for ease in developing your reference list)

If copying exact words, take extra care to ensure accuracy

Summary and Discussion