McRzicznek

GSW 1120: Pre-Search Packet

Developed Fall 2013 as prewriting for the Source Analysis

SLOW DOWN!!!
A breakdown of the Research Process
Follow the steps below and Answer the following questions to start your research project. If you
need more space write on an additional piece of paper.
1.) What topic do you want to research?

2.) Why do you want to research that topic?

3.) What do you already know about this topic?

4.) What do you hope to learn about this topic?

5.) What kinds of sources do you hope to find about this topic?

6.) Go to Wikipedia. Type in your topic. What did you learn?

7.) Look at the REFERENCES at the bottom of your topics Wikipedia page. Explore these references. Read and
annotate a few of them. Do any look like credible sources youd like to use your paper? Which ones? Why?

8.) You know you CANNOT use Wikipedia in your essay, but you CAN use the references from the topics page
as well as other credible sources. Find another source for your topic on the internet. Read and annotate that
article Answer ALL of the following questions. Where did you find this source? What is it about? Is it a credible
source? How do you know its a credible source or not? How does thissource relate to your topic? Are you
considering using this source in your essay? Why/why not?

9.) Find another source for your topic on Academic Source Complete. Read and annotate that article. Answer
ALL of the following questions. Where did you find this source? What is it about? Is it a credible source? How
do you know its a credible source or not? How does this source relate to your topic? Are you considering using
this source in your essay? Why/why not?

10.) What connections do you see between the first and second sources? Do they agree with, disagree with, or
expand upon each others ideas in any way? Be sure to list direct quotes from both articles to show the
connections.

11.) Find another source for your topic in a print book. Read and annotate that article. Answer ALL of the
following questions. Where did you find this source? What is it about? Is it a credible source? How do you know
its a credible source or not? How does this source relate to your topic? Are you considering using this source in
your essay? Why/why not?

12.) What connections do you see between the third and fourth sources? Do they agree with, disagree with, or
expand upon each others ideas in any way? Be sure to list direct quotes from both articles to show the
connections.

13.) What connections do you see between all four sources? Do they agree with, disagree with, or expand upon
each others ideas in any way? Be sure to list direct quotes from both articles to show the connections.

14.) Based on your preliminary research, what research questions are you considering for your research project?
List at least three ARGUMENTATIVE questions and have these questions be ones that you have NOT
previously considered before starting your research.

15.) Of these questions, which one are you most drawn to exploring more? Why? How might the answer to this
question become an ARGUMENTATIVE thesis statement?

McRzicznek

GSW 1120: Pre-Search Packet

Developed Fall 2013 as prewriting for the Source Analysis

Your Name
McRzicznek
GSW 1120
17 Oct. 2013
Title: Proposal for Hello Kitty Paper
Paragragh Intro, Part 1: (LOOK AT THE Slow Down homework)
Why do you want to research it?
What do you already know?
What do you hope to learn?
What kinds of sources do you want to find for the Research Paper? Academic sources,
credible sources, sources from trade magazines and other sources that relate to yourarticle.
A good mix.
Paragraph Intro, Part 2:
After researching what did you begin to learn? (Answer to Wikipedia question. In
general, whats the consensus about your topic?
What sources have you found thus far?
First source Paragraph
Topic sentence will state title of the source and author.
he authors credentials
Summarize the source (3 sentences to a whole paragraph)
Critique the source: give at least 2 reasons why it is a valid source and support those
reasons with examples (go back to Essay 1 notes for possible criteria)
Second Source Paragraph
Topic sentence will state title of the source and author.
Give the authors credentials
Summarize the source (3 sentences to a whole paragraph)
Critique the source: give at least 2 reasons why it is a valid source and support those
reasons with examples (go back to Essay 1 notes for possible criteria)
SYNTEHSIS PARAGRAPH 1
Topic sentence that states the connection
Explain connection between Sources 1 & 2 in your own words
Synthesis (agree, disagree, elaborate upon)
Explain how synthesis has shaped how you will focus your topic into an argument.
Third Source Paragraph
Topic sentence will state title of the source and author.
Summarize the source (3 sentences to a whole paragraph)
Critique the source: give at least 2 reasons why it is a valid source and support those
reasons with examples (go back to Essay 1 notes for possible criteria)
SYNTEHSIS PARAGRAPH 2
Topic sentence that states the connection between Sources 1 & 3 or 2 &3
Explain connection in your own words

Synthesis (agree, disagree, elaborate upon)

Explain how synthesis has shaped how you will focus your topic into an argument.
Conclusion:
Based on the research you have conducted thus far what possible arguments are you
considering for the Research Paper? List possible research questions you have formulated
(look at h/w!!!)
Of these questions which one appeals to you the most and why?
Answering this question leads to what type of argument? Arguing a Position,
Proposing a Solution, Speculating Causes?
What might be a sample thesis that you could use in the Research Essay?
Works Cited page