Assignment to bring to Library on Tuesday, 11/17

Class,

Here is the assignment. Please bring print and bring to the library on Tuesday. As always, email with any questions.

The goal: have two specific research questions to start your initial searches through the library database. We're spending a fair amount of time on these questions because they will help you research efficiently. Keep in mind that your questions will evolve as you get deeper into research. At the end of the research process, you will have gathered research that will put you in a position to answer your own question with some authority. If you keep up with these individual steps along the way, you will be very prepared to write your essay when the time comes.

So, here's the assignment:
1. Write down your research question as it stands right now, at this very moment.
2. Conduct some light research. "Light" research includes googling your topic to find out who are the important people involved in your topic, what are the ongoing controversies and debates, key dates, etc. Searching Wikipedia may help, too. I recommend searches like "video games violence NPR" or "NYTimes banana farming" to help you get an idea of what's going on with your topic.
3. Write down terms, people, dates, etc. that seem like they may be relevant to your research. It's a good idea to keep all this stuff in one place in your notebook to make it easy to find when you start writing your essay.
4. After conducing this "light research," go back to your initial research question. Now that you know a little bit more about your topic, how can you make your question more specific? Has your initial research shifted your focus? What new information do you want to find out about? Write your responses to these questions in 1-2 paragraphs.
5. Write two research questions to get started with your research on Tuesday. (The goal here is to come up with two different approaches to your topic; this step will help you generate ideas and have a backup in case you get stuck)

Remember, we'll meet on the second floor of the library. It is in the Donahue building just inside the main entrance. Ask a librarian if you have any trouble finding the teaching lab.

Have a great weekend

Professor Rattner