Research Module

Essential Question

  A good research project is an inquiry; it tries to answer an important question.  The essential question leads to the development of the thesis statement.  The essential question also evokes secondary questions which have to be answered in order to form the body of the research.

Thesis

 A good thesis statement makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple "regurgitation of facts."  A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.  A good thesis will help you focus your search for information.  It will drive your writing.  Each point you make in your project should support your thesis. 

Developing a good thesis statement requires a substantial amount of background reading in order to have enough information about a subject to identify essential questions.  Then further reading is required to state a position.  When you start your research, you will often have a "working" or preliminary thesis that you will continue to refine until you have enough evidence to support your statement.  A thesis statement declares what you believe and intend to prove, and is usually located at the end of the opening paragraph.

Source Evaluation:  CARRDSS

Credibility:  Who is the author?  What are his or her credentials?

 Accuracy:  Can facts, statistics, or other information be verified through other sources?  Based on my knowledge, does the information seem accurate?

 Reliability:  Does the source present a particular view or bias?

 Relevance:  Does this information directly support my hypothesis/thesis or help to answer my question?

 Date:  When was this information created?  When was it revised?  Are these dates meaningful in terms of the subject matter?

 Sources Behind the Text:  Does the author use reliable, credible sources?

 Scope:  Does this source address my hypothesis/thesis/question in a comprehensive or peripheral way?  Is it a scholarly or popular treatment?

MLA Citation

MLA Format

  Practically all research builds from previous research.  Researchers commonly begin a project by studying past work in an area and deriving relevant information and ideas their predecessors.  Therefore, when presenting their work, researchers acknowledge their debts to predecessors by carefully documenting each source so that earlier contributions receive appropriate credit.  You will be responsible for including this page, or pages, at the end of all research papers.

 Writing Bibliographic Citations using MLA Format

 The MLA (Modern Languages Association) format is widely accepted, and can be used unless your teacher dictates that you use another.  The following examples are of those sources most often used.  If you are not using a type of source listed below, refer to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, sixth edition, by Joseph Gibaldi.

Pathfinders

Salem Witch Trials

If you have any questions or comments about the library or the library web page, please e-mail them to the librarian at [email protected].

If you have any questions or comments about the library or the library web page, please e-mail them to the librarian at [email protected].