Research Journal Assignment
Part 1
Reference Sources
In this assignment, you will explore your research topic/question using reference sources and answer a series of question to reflect on each source you find. You will use the article from Credo and locate one using Wikipedia. Wikipedia is considered a popular reference source, whereas Credo is an academic reference source. Their purpose is essentially the same, they differ in authorship, audience, publication, and access. Starting at Wikipdia.org, locate an entry that will provide relevant background information for your research to answer questions about Source #2 Wikipedia Source.
Format your document using the headings below. Be sure you save your assignment as a Word file. For each source you'll need a properly formatted MLA citation. In order to create the citation, locate
• Author of article
• Editor of book (for Credo, not Wikipedia)
• Name of Database or Website (Credo Reference or Wikipedia)
• Title of specific entry eg., "Social Inclusion"
• Title of book, the name of the reference work where the entry is located eg., Encyclopedia of American Education (Applies to Credo only)
• Date of publication
• Date you found the web source (i.e. today's date):
• URL of source
Source #1 from Credo
MLA Citation for Source #1
General Reflection
Write a brief 3-5 sentence paragraph where you reflect on your article. List three relevant bolded/linked words or three new keywords. Describe the disciplinary perspective (subject such as business, education, criminology) of the book by examining the book title and/or about section and why this perspective is a useful one for your research. List something new you learned from reading this entry and at least two new questions that have emerged (none is not an acceptable answer).
Author/Editor Reflection
You will likely have to search for the author or editor online to find this information. Write a brief 3-5 sentence paragraph including all of the following: The author's name and qualifications for writing about this subject, whether you feel this author is qualified to write about this subject and why. Besides a person with this professional background, who else (by profession, identity, or experience) might provide an additional angle on your research question? For example, if this person is writing from a particular subject background, what other subject background might be useful? Or if this is an academic source, would you like to hear from a news source or from someone with personal experience? Why?
Source #2 From Wikipedia
Locate a relevant Wikipedia article. Read the entire article and then the "talk" or discussion page.
MLA Citation for Source #2
General Reflection
Write a brief 3-5 sentence paragraph where you reflect on your article. List three relevant bolded/linked words or new keywords. List something new you learned from reading this entry and at least two new questions that have emerged (none is not an acceptable answer).
Research Conversation Reflection
Talk pages (also known as discussion pages) are administration pages where editors can discuss improvements to articles or other Wikipedia pages ."
Read the "talk" page and select one subsection within the talk page to examine that is either the most interesting to you or has the most content. In a brief 3-5 sentence paragraph, reflect on the "talk" section of the Wikipedia page. Summarize the problem being discussed, explain the different positions/points of view (if available), changes suggested, changes made, and any resolutions suggested or made. What is something new you learned in examining the "talk" page?
Research Journal
Answer the following:
1. Now that you have a better understanding of your topic, formulate a specific research question. Keep in mind the suggestions from the module you completed before writing your Research Proposal, the information you've gathered in the Credo and Wikipedia articles, feedback from classmates, and keyword activity in class.
2. How does Wikipedia and Credo each contribute, albeit differently to your research?
3. What type of information are you looking for going forward?
Looking ahead
In the next library workshop, we'll be exploring news articles and website sources. Watch the video below and answer the questions.
• What is a popular source?
• Why would you use popular articles for your research?