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STEPS TO RESEARCH AND LOCATING
CRITICAL SOURCES
The process
1. Task Definition
* Define the information problem
* Identify information needed (are
you looking for fiction, non-fiction, electronic, does it matter?)
2. Information Seeking Strategies
* Determine all possible sources
* Select the BEST sources
3. Location and access
* Locate sources
* Find information within sources
4. Use of information
* Engage (read, hear, view, touch)
* Extract relevant information
5. Synthesis
* Organize from multiple sources
* Present the information
6. Evaluation
* Judge the product (effectiveness)
* Judge the process (efficiency)
HOW THIS FITS INTO CRITICAL
SOURCES
1. Define the problem - you are
looking for critical sources. You are (probably) looking for non-fiction sources
that can be in print or online. The only time you would need to have fiction
sources is if you are looking for the actual titles by the author.
2. Information Seeking - what are the BEST sources for critical research? Books
- using the catalog, you can find print resources, online resources and ebooks
with criticisms. Netlibrary also contains full-text resources. Online sources
you may want to consider include Literature Resource Center, Bloom's Literary
Reference. Both are found on the Online Resources link. You might also consider
using Ebscohost databases, specifically Masterfile Premier to locate scholarly
journal articles on your author or the title you have read. Biographies on an
author can be located using Blooms, LRC or Contemporary Authors (found in the
POWER library area of the website).
3. Location and access - use the catalog and go get the books. Open the book,
use the index, the table of contents and just skim. Find the information.
4. Use of information - Read the information and extract (take notes). Write
down the source and the page on your notecards.
5. Synthesis - Organize your information from multiple sources. You cannot use
only one source. Remember a primary source is the book you read and a speech,
interview or autobiography by the author.
6. Evaluation - have you completed all the areas of the assignment. If not, go
back and complete the process until you have finished.
Honors
Research (9) | 
