Monthly Archives: September 2011

My methodlogy to doing research is very similar to that of Proffessor Francoeur. To begin I do a broad background check on the subject to find an interesting topic, on which I can base my thesis. For instance if I had to write about the American Westward Expansion, I would go to Wikipedia or look into my textbook to find different events, causes/effects,and significant figures that influenced the period. Once I choose something specific, I consult sources like articles, journals, and books for more detailed information on my topic. In the Western Expansion example, if I initially chose to focus on the hardships of the pioneers, I would find articles, journals, and books with detailed descriptions of their journeys and experiences. I combine these sources to write my paper.

When i do research I must first develop a question in my mind of what it is that I am trying to learn about in more depth. I can then go on to formulating a hypothesis about what I think the answer would be, and compare it to the information that I find online. I must also make sure the sources of my information are valid and accurate before I can put them to use, by looking into more than one source. Then I have to look into the specific details that can help answer my  question, as opposed to just putting random facts into my work. This means I have to know what I’m looking for, and be as strategic as possible in order to find it.

To do research, first I need a topic to look up information about. Then, I look up a more precise subject within the topic. After that, I start to look up relevant information for details on the subject. In the end, I gather up all the information I looked up and use it for my research paper.

When I research, I start off by googling the topic. I go and read or skim the Wikipedia page on that topic and get a feel of what the topic is about. I don’t use Wikipedia as a source nor do I quote it in my paper. I will find other (reliable) websites so that I could add quotes and be able to source it in my bibliography. Also I like have a book on the topic just to have a published author for citing.

I start by analyzing the assignment and picking out keywords that would help me find out more about it. I would enter these keywords into google until I got a better understanding on the topic. I would then use what I read from the first few relevant search results as filters for the Encyclopedia search tool until I got what I’m looking for.

First I start off finding relevant information about the given topic. For example, if the topic is about Apple, I would ask myself some questions and try to narrow down the given topic into sub-topics. Like, the history of Apple or ways of how it got so successful. Once I find some relevant information, I would look up some research in encyclopedias and news articles, and watch some videos on the topic.

1. Specify the topic I’m looking for
2. See if I have any idea about the topic
3. Search up the topic via web or books
4. See if the sources I find are legitimate and pertain to the topic I’m looking for
5. Use the appropriate information from the sources for the assignment at hand

When doing research i generally like to know the big picture of the topic and get a sense for the different subdivisions and categories of the topic. When i have narrowed it down to a specific topic I try to narrow it down into more subdivisions by looking at different perspectives or perhaps different opinions. As i do this I also try to think “outside the box” by looking at an array of implications that this subject might be subjected to. After i have a good understanding on these subdivisions i try to find more specific information by finding my sources. Once i have a good amount of sources i begin evaluating each one based on their limitations and significance they might have on the topic i am looking to research. I also try to find links and connections between the sources in order to better write a well organized and constructive response to my research question.