The Seven
Steps of the Research Process
10th Grade American Author
Paper
Step 1: IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP YOUR
TOPIC
State your topic as a question.
Step 2: FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Read articles in the reference books that are recommended by the
librarians keeping in mind the main concepts you have identified
in Step 1.
|
Reference Books
in the Library: |
|
1. Beacham’s
Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction |
R 809.3 BEA |
|
2. Short
Story Writers |
R 809.31
SHO |
|
3. Critical
Survey of Long Fiction |
R 809.3 CRI |
|
4. Novels
for Students |
R 809.3 NOV |
|
5. Contemporary
Literary Criticism |
R 809.93
CON |
|
6. Literature
and Its Times |
R 809.93
LIT |
|
7. American
Writers |
R 810.9 AME |
|
8. Identities
and Issues in Literature |
R 810.9 IDE |
|
9. Magill’s
Survey of American Literature |
R 810.9 MAG |
|
10. Dictionary
of Literary Biography |
R 809.8 AME |
|
11. Great
American Writers |
R 810.9 GRE |
|
12. Short
Stories for Students |
R 809.31
SHO |
|
13. American
Literature |
R 810.9 AME |
|
14. The Oxford
Encyclopedia of American Literature |
R 810.9 OXF |
|
15. Thematic
Guide to the American Novel |
R 813.009
ADA |
Step 3: USE ON-LINE CATALOGS TO FIND
BOOKS
Check the MBA catalog (OPAC) by searching for your author under
both “Title” and “Subject.” Be sure to enter
last name first.If MBA’s library does not have what you need,
check Vanderbilt’s catalog (ACORN) and the Nashville Public
Library’s catalog.
You can access both of these catalogs through MBA Library home page.
Ask the librarians to check out a book from Vanderbilt for you.
Step 4: USE MBA DATABASES TO FIND
PERIODICAL ARTICLES
Choose the database best suited to your topic. Ask the librarians
if you need help figuring out which database will be best. Search
the databases using the keywords you developed in Step 1. Read the
article closely before you print it to be sure it will help you write
your paper. Write down which database you are using for future citations.
Step 5: FIND INTERNET RESOURCES
Use search engines to locate materials on the Web. Check with the
librarians for an internet guide on your subject.
Step 6: EVALUATE WHAT YOU FIND
See the “Evaluating Web Resources” and “Distinguishing
Between Scholarly and Non-Scholarly Periodicals” sheets in
this packet for suggestions on evaluating the authority and quality
of the articles you located. If you are unsure about the worthiness
of a source, check with your teacher or a librarian.
Step 7: CITE WHAT YOU FIND USING MLA
FORMAT
Cite your sources as you take notes so you won’t have to find
the source later. Handouts summarizing the MLA style are available
on the Library’s home page, or ask a librarian for one.
|
