1. Today's Class Objectives
1.1. Group Selection
1.2. Getting to a Research Question
1.3. Broad Topic Selection
1.4. Group Exercise (intro to Google Docs)
1.5. Review Assignment 1
2. Steps in the Research Process
2.1. What's the assignment?
2.1.1. Length?
2.1.2. Is it an opinion piece? A research paper? A creative writing assignment?
2.1.3. What resources do you need?
2.1.4. What resources are available to you?
2.1.5. When's it due?
2.2. Where can you find topic ideas?
2.2.1. Personal interests
2.2.2. Current events
2.2.2.1. Television
2.2.2.2. Radio
2.2.2.3. Newspapers
2.2.2.4. Web: News sites, Blogs, etc.
2.2.3. Course syllabus
2.2.4. Your professor
2.2.5. Class discussions
2.2.6. Library and Online Resources
2.2.6.1. CQ Researcher
2.2.6.2. Hot Paper Topics
2.2.6.3. Examples for other classes
2.2.6.3.1. CLIO Notes
2.2.6.3.2. Debatabase
2.3. Focus Your Topic
2.3.1. Use background information
2.3.1.1. General Encyclopedias
2.3.1.1.1. Britannica Online
2.3.1.1.2. Wikipedia
2.3.1.2. Subject-Related Encyclopedias
2.3.1.2.1. Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications
2.3.2. Narrow/Broaden by
2.3.2.1. Time
2.3.2.1.1. Years, months, weeks,days
2.3.2.2. Place
2.3.2.2.1. Continent, country, state, county, city
2.3.2.3. Events/Aspects
2.3.2.4. People
2.3.2.4.1. College students, age ranges, gender, ethnicity, etc.
2.3.2.5. Example
2.3.2.5.1. Virtual Learning
2.4. Frame a Research Question
2.4.1. Example: How Can virtual learning impact the quality of the college educational experience?
2.4.2. Avoid those questions with a "Yes" or "No" answer