Journal 18 Overview Based on last week’s Journal 16 and the feedback you receive

Journal 18
Overview
Based on last week’s Journal 16 and the feedback you received, I hope you are as happy as I am to do another piece of Step 5! Again, Journals 16 & 18 are practice note “cards” for Step 5! You are writing a “card” from your Step 5, which is due in this Module, and I am going to look it over and make sure you are doing it correctly so that you can make changes to it and the others prior to submitting them for a grade. Again, I ask, “Does class get any better?”
“Class Journals.” BBC, 2020.Instructions:
To begin this assignment, compose your Journal 18 answering the following prompt:
Choose a source for your Research Paper topic; it cannot be a source you used in Step 4.
Bibliographically cite the source using MLA citation rules.
Offer “notes” in one of the following forms:
quotes
paraphrases
summaries
3. Give parenthetical citations after each “note.”
NOTES: Remember to do the following task when compiling your list:
use a hanging indent if the citations fall onto the second line;
look at the Step 5 Sample.
See also “Evaluating Sources” and “Working with Sources, Parts 1, 2, and 3.”
Write your answer in a bulleted list 200-250 words).
Working with Sources: Evaluating
How Do I Know This Source Is Good?
We spoke of this research problem in preparation for Step 2, when we learned more about the CriticalReading/Critical Thinking Connection, and also in preparation for Step 4. In other words, you should be saying, “Been There, Done That,” but we aren’t quite done with it yet because we are preparing for Step 5, which is due at the end of next week.
In Step 2, we learned that we compile a Preliminary Bibliography to ensure that our topic is viable and has a variety of good sources; we also learned about the Databases, which take care of some of the Evaluation of the sources for us.
In Step 4, we learned that one of the purposes of an Annotated Bibliography is to vet/credential our sources and to
compare the source we choose with other sources on the topic (we were synthesizing our thoughts and the sources’).
In our Critical Reading/Critical Thinking section, we learned that we need to read critically to make sure that we are getting adequate information, and then we need to think critically so that we know the information is valid.
The point of this long-winded review is that we need to evaluate our sources prior to including them in our research paper. We want the very best and most credible sources because it turns out that our paper and our argument are only as strong as our sources.
With that being said, we need to Evaluate our sources prior to including them in our paper, and to accomplish this goal, we will need to use all of the skills we used in Steps 2 and 4, as well as the process we learned in the Critical Reading/Critical Thinking Pages.
Before deciding that the source you found is the best and taking notes from it (Step 5), evaluate the source by using the CRAP test, and, no, I did not make up that acronym, but it is fitting. For further information on CRAP, take a look at the Colorado Community Colleges video below.
As you watch the video, pay attention to the methods Stephanie Stephens uses to determine the validity of a website.
Now that we have separated the crappy from the “CRAP” sources, we can start actually taking notes for our paper! Now, we are researching!
Working with Sources: Taking Notes (Part 1)
Getting the Dirt: Note Taking
We are prepping Research Step 5 in this module, just like we prepped Step 4 since it will require a little lead time. Step 5 is going to be the submission of Note Cards; you will read 7 new sources (they cannot be the 6 sources you used in Step 4) on your research paper topic, and you will turn in 5 full sheets of notes from those 7 sources. In a perfect world, between your Step 4 with its 6 sources’ summaries and Step 5 with its 7 new sources, you might very well be finished with your research and ready to move onto the writing of the paper. Even if you still have to read a few more sources to get your paper written, you will definitely have finished most of your research. Pretty awesome, right?
Before I go any further, I would like to remind you of some overarching ideas that should provide the backdrop for note taking:
You need to read critically; always actively question what you read and keep research question/focus in mind.
You need to watch author stance/bias; if it is inappropriate, discard.
You need to look at the author’s argument—is it good? Do you believe it?
You need to understand that there will be disagreement among sources; think critically and choose the source that is supported by other sources.
It may seem pretty “old school” to take notes; most students prefer to open their research paper document and then keep multiple tabs with their sources open. This approach is not very “critical,” nor effective. It leads students into taking information from a source here and a source there for the sake of convenience. The purpose of notes is that you read a source, take the information that is relevant to your purpose, and then move onto another source and repeat. If you do all of your research prior to writing, then you have a chance to recognize your views, synthesize multiple sources, and blend it all into your thoughts. Taking notes allows you to read and interact with the material and then take a break from it so that you can incorporate it into your paper in a meaningful manner.
Since you have been convinced of the value of taking notes (beyond the fact that you have to submit them for a grade), flip the page so that we can cover the goals and requirements for the note cards (Step 5).
Working with Sources: Taking Notes (Part 2)
Mining for Gold: Taking Notes (Part 2)
Once the usefulness of a source is decided upon, notes get taken.
When you take your notes, you have three goals:
Write enough information to recall the major points.
Write the information in the form you are likely using in your paper (if you would quote in paper, quote in note, etc.).
Copy all of the MLA bibliographic material to accurately cite it parenthetically and bibliographically.
In terms of requirements for your notes assignment (Step 5), you will need to incorporate the following:
Each set of notes must begin with the source’s bibliographic citation.
Each actual note must be followed by a parenthetical citation.
You must give 5 full sheets of paper filled with notes from 7 sources.
Of course, I will offer a Step 5 Review Page next week prior to its submission. I will also give you an Assignment Sheet, as always, with the instructions next week, too. Again, I am simply preparing this step early so that you have some lead time on it, but it is not due until the end of Module 9.
Now that the technical specifications and requirements are out of the way, I want to give you some great advice that will really keep you on track once you enter the abyss (like a mine shaft, get it?) of information on your topic.
Naturally, you will be using your Critical Reading/Thinking skills, but I am adding a layer: Purposeful Reading/Note Taking.
Rather than reading any and everything related to your topic, focus. All academic research papers follow patterns, just like Essay 1 and Essay 2 have had a pattern. In order to fine tune your research process, consider which of the following organizational parts of your paper you will use:
Thesis/Claim/Stance
Background
Definitions
Causes/Effects/Impacts
Advantages/Disadvantages
Problems/Solutions
Treatments/Preventions/Interventions
Opposition
Obviously, your research paper will not include all of these components, but these parts, collectively, are the pieces that build research papers. What shape will your paper have? Which of the above areas are you likely going to explore? Once you answer these questions, then you have a focus, which means that you do not need information in areas that are not part of your focus.
If you are struggling to determine a focus or direction, then read a couple of your sources and see how they approach the topic. What shape or parts do they use? Also, look at your essay prompts; you will have seen a comparison/contrast, causal analysis, position argument, and proposal argument prompt prior to this due date. If none of that works for you, email me; I can help you come up with a shape and/or parts!
Once you have determined these parts, you can label your notes with the part names (ie; cause or solution) to keep your notes organized!
Whew! We are practically done with the note taking pages, follow me to the next page, where I will share the methods to convey information from a source you are reading into your notes.
(Gold Mine from ClipArt)