Class,
Having gotten your first taste of research in the databases, I want you to continue refining your research question. As Theresa the librarian pointed out, your first search results can help you to narrow down your topic. In abstracts and categories, you can find related terms. You can also find out what people are talking about and what type of research has been done. You can use these terms and topics to narrow down your own.
Remember, you are going to write a five-seven page essay that will go into depth on your topic. Therefore, you want to make your research question as specific as possible. Also, you want your question to invite debate / seek out opposing view points / foster a conversation that does not have a single, simple answer.
We've spent two class periods going over how to develop a specific research question, and we don't have more time to spend on this topic. It is, however, crucial to a successful essay. So, if you have questions about what makes for a good research question, please check out this site: http://libguides.lmu.edu/c.php?g=323167&p=2173967 . If you want to run your research question by me, just send an email.
So, what to bring to post to the blog.
1. Write down your initial area of interest
2. Your initial research question
3. Your revised research question that is focused and that invites debate / multiple perspectives.
4. What you have been able to discover so far in your research in the databases. Are there more relevant articles than you expected? Fewer? Have you found articles in the database that suggest any new directions for your research? From your searches, offer one example of an article you think may help you. You don't have to provide an in-depth summary, just a general idea.
Stay focused these last few weeks of class. Use this time to stay true to your goals and build up some confidence heading into winter. You got this...
Originally I wanted to research the gangs/mobs of Boston, and most importantly Whitey Bulger and the Winter Hill gang. While doing my research I found that it was difficult to find information and articles on my topic. So I have decided to research a new topic and that is the question “Did the Aliens build the pyramids?” I feel that this will be a more interesting topic to research and learn about. This will be a good question because there are two different sides someone could have on this topic. I have just started my research on my topic so I don’t have a lot of information yet
ReplyDelete1.) My initial area of interest is on feminism
ReplyDelete2.) Why do men view feminism as a threat?
3.) Why do men find women in power as a threat to their masculinity?
What you have been able to discover so far in your research in the databases. Are there more relevant articles than you expected? Fewer? Have you found articles in the database that suggest any new directions for your research? From your searches, offer one example of an article you think may help you. You don't have to provide an in-depth summary, just a general idea.
4.) So far in my research using the database, I was able to find a few articles relating to women and/or girls in power. Some were on women in workforce, the
"glass ceiling," and on feminist pedagogy in education. One of the articles I found interesting was there was a self-esteem survey that teachers must evaluate whether the girls or boys are considered to be more smarter, more praise-worthy, more comfortable, and more attentive. It seems that more girls are given the good points where they are viewed to be more successful and potential in their education rather than the boys. After reading this article, it changed my direction (focus) on male workers feeling threated by women in higher position jobs (manager, boss, etc) to how boys/men feels about educated girls/women.
I started my search around driver less cars and even still today it remains the same. This is were I will focus my attention I have No intention of changing my focus. The articles I have looked at are extensive and I have not yet come to a final conclusion. I will put this information together as it evolves. You will all remain in complete and utter suspense till then don't lose sleep I won't. How long will it take to have a safe reliable self driving car in my driveway should I start saving now to be the first or is it another pipe dream made up to lead us to thinking we are greater than ever like the word fair propaganda of a new high tec world with space travel for a vacation destination.
ReplyDeleteMy original idea was to talk about the development of WWII battleships. So my original research question was, “Why did the U.S. Navy change its priority’s to speed when designing the next generation of battleships in the late 1930s?”
ReplyDeleteThen After some research I put some more detail in. “Why did the U.S. Navy want to change its priority to speed instead of armor and armament, when designing the next generation of battleships starting in 1935?” I find that the databases were easy to use but I found it hard to find what I was looking for. I found an article in the databases that was explaining 21st century warfare., and that article has made me change my question to “ Is there a place and use for a battleship in a modern navy?”
My original area of interest was video games. I started out with asking, “What are the psychological effects of first-person violent video games on children ages 12 and under?” My revised research question is now “what limits should parents put on their children’s gaming habits?” So far I was able to discover that there are fewer articles than I initially thought that have the positives and negatives of video games on children. I plan on researching both separately, and then interweaving them into my research essay. For example, I already have an article (an academic research article to be specific) that goes into detail on the positive effects that video games have on children. However, I’d like to have multiple articles on either side (positive and negative) of the spectrum in order to more accurately convey my stance across to my audience (parents).
ReplyDeleteMy initial area of interest is on business or starting a small business; bowling center to be more specific. My original research question was, Is there a positive impact a young adult can have by starting his or her own small business? The problem I was having was making my questions to broad therefore I used more research to come up with something more specific. It took a while, but I already found an interesting article talking about how businesses like bowling alleys and cinemas are changing in the culture. My revised question hopefully is Do bowling alley owners have to keep up to date with modern trends to keep their businesses open? After the reading that one article, I seem to think about my personal experiences as an employee at a bowling alley and how it is out of date, compared to other bowling alleys. There is more research to be done, but that article about businesses changing with the culture was a good kick-start for me. My next move is to research some modern trends that are currently used at modernized bowling centers or other small businesses that trigger more interest from children and adults. I think in time this assignment will trigger me into better preparation for my essay and it is an assignment where I can relate my personal experiences.
ReplyDelete