Chapter 5: Finding and Evaluating Research Sources

Chapter 5 discusses the best way to locate research sources and how to critically evaluate both print and electronic sources.  One example included a conmparison of two magazine covers focusing on the same topic.  The visual rhetoric of each cover suggests each article's approach will be different; consequently, the writing styles will also be different.  When conducting research, one must use his skills in rhetorical analysis to help evaluate various sources for his project including the cover design, the table contents, the index, etc.  Also, one must visualize his research to grasp the specifics of his topic and its content.  One helpful tool when performing this task is envisioning the metaphor of the iceberg of research which suggests the various sources which include books, articles, and websites lie beneath the surface while the final paper is the metaphorical "tip of the iceberg."  This process leads into the next step: developing search terms.  These keywords tend to vary when searching the Web, and academic database, or a library catalog.  After many initial searches, one must narrow his search experimenting with a range of different terms to help find ideas and materials that are relevant and specific to the research topic. Scholars divide research into primary and secondary research.  Similarly, sources become divided into primary sources (original texts analyzed in a research paper) and secondary sources (sources that provide commentary on primary material or on the research topic in general).  These two types of sources can be found in many places including the lbrary, community centers, online digital archives, encyclopedias, and even through classmates whom one can consult or even interview.
It can be overwhelming when implementing these research strategies.  Evaluating the primary and secondary sources distinguish among those that are credible, reliable, and authoritative.  When evaluating research via internet, just plugging in a general topic into Google search or Bing search will bring up ovver 5 million sites and it becomes more difficult when trying to distinguish which ones are relevant and useful to the topic.  One must evaluate his sources by the author/publisher and consider the arrangement and organization or the research material.  When evaluating library and database sources, the key is to look in the library's reference area, followed by looking in the library catalog.  When using field research, one must consider the resources available throughout campus.  Creating a dialogue with sources is also important in evaluating research topics.  This can be done through a series of dialogue of sources.  One fiinal and most important task when conducting reserach is citing the sources used within the body of the paper called annotated bibliography.  By performing these steps, one can ensure his paper will be very successful.