March 5

Today we went to the library for instruction in research.  Amy Burns, the librarian, helped us think about how to think about what search terms to use and taught us about online resources we can use for this paper.  Here are her talking points:

• There are three steps to writing a research paper: (1) focusing; (2) gathering; (3) writing.
• You can't use search terms like you would in Google.  When using academic or library search engines, you have to think about the terms that are being used by experts in the field.
• When searching your topic, use synonyms for all of your important key terms.
• Research is not about what you already know.  It's about what you find through the articles, books and websites.
• The link to the library website is http://www.cpcc.edu/library
• The multi-search tool on the library site will search databases, books and all other library resources. 
• If you find an article that might work, make sure to save it.  There is no guarantee that you will be able to find it later even if you use the same search terms.  You can always delete it later if you don't end up using it.
• Use the MLA citations in EBSCOhost, but make sure that it is right.

Amy has put together a research guide for us; the link is http://researchguides.cpcc.edu/eng112keaton.  On it, she has listed her email and several databases and websites that would be helpful for this paper.  During class, she showed us:

• National Center for Education Services (works best in Firefox)
• Pew Research CEnter
• Opposing Viewpoints
• CQ Researcher
• EBSCOhost
• The "education" topic in "Research Databases" on the library website.

Homework:

• Read "Wikiphobia: The Latest Open Source" in Practical Argument pgs. 341-342.
• Post a reading response on your blog.

Check your email for information about conferences after Spring Break.