Gathering Data

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Gathering Data

• Three Possibilities

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The Writing Process1. Discovery.
2. Determining Rhetorical Stance.3. Invention
and Pre-Writing.4. Gathering Data.5. Planning
and Organizing.6. Outlining.7. Composing/Draftin
g.8. Reviewing.9. Revising and
Rewriting.10. Editing.11. Proofreading.12. Publ
ishing.
There are no final draftsonly deadlines.
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The Preliminaries Evaluating Sources

• All sources must be evaluated, but especially
  Internet sources. Valid sources lend backing to
  our claims and give us access to expert opinion,
  advice, and argument. The following sources are
  essential
• Books
• Periodicals
• Internet
• Library databases
• Lectures
• Interviews
• Documentaries, etc.

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Why Periodicals?

• What does periodical mean?
• Periodical literature is more current.
• Books show us where the Great Conversation has
  been and are a firm foundation for critical
  thinking.
• Periodicals show us where the Conversation is
  going. They are closer to the cutting-edge than
  are books.

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Internet Sources

• Why are Internet sources questionable?
• How do we recognize a reliable source?
• Which Internet encyclopedia is not a good source?
• Does that mean we cant use it?

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Balance

• The main thing, when using sources, is to
  achieve balance. A thoughtful researcher will
  consult books, periodicals, Internet sources, and
  academic databases. Seek to achieve this
  academic balance in your bibliographies.

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Methods of Gathering Data

• As in all things, there are different strokes
  for different folks. Some people favor one
  research method over another, so we will take a
  brief look at three popular methods for gathering
  and saving data.

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1. Note Card Method
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Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of
Enchantment. New York Vintage, 1989.
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Quotation Card Give each quotation card a number
corresponding to your bibliographic card.
Quotation Card Finally, Note the page number.
Quotation Card Record each quotation from your
text on a separate 3x5 card, whether direct,
paraphrased, or summarized. It is always a good
idea to put direct quotations in quotation marks.
Jewish children didnt like the fairy tale
Hansel and Gretel after the Holocaust.
Bibliographic Card . . . , then record the exact
bibliographic information.
Bibliographic Card Number a card for each source
that you read . . .
p. 8
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Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of
Enchantment. New York Vintage, 1989.
Jewish children didnt like the fairy tale
Hansel and Gretel after the Holocaust.
p. 8
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Sale, Roger. Fairy Tales and After From
Snow White to E.B. White. Cambridge,
Massachussetts Harvard UP, 1979. 37-8.
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The story of Cinderella may have had its origins
in China, which views small feet as particularly
beautiful. p. 67
Zipes, Jack. Dont Bet On the Prince
Contemporary Feminist Fairy Tales in North
America and England. 1987. New York
Routledge, 1989.
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2. Research Notebook Method
Record the bibliographic information at the top
of the page for each book that you read.

Write the page number for each quotation you find
useful, then record the quotation, whether
direct, paraphrased, or summarized. It is a good
idea to put direct quotations in quotation marks.
Bettelheim, Bruno. The Uses of
Enchantment. New York Vintage, 1989.
p. 8 Jewish children didnt like the
fairy tale Hansel and Gretel after
the Holocaust. p. 9 The German
government actually dropped the
story from the curriculum.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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3. Photocopy, Highlight, and Dump it in a Box
Method
Toss all your highlighted information in a box
for later.
You will eventually sort through, perforate, and
then file your research in a three-ringed binder.
Photocopy, cut out, or print pages that seem
useful to you, highlighting pertinent
infor-mation.
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616) Perhaps one
of the greatest play- wrights ever to have lived,
William Shakespeare was born during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespeare withdrew from
school at twelve to help with the family
business, which makes his success all the more
remarkable.
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616) Perhaps one
of the greatest play- wrights ever to have lived,
William Shakespeare was born during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespeare withdrew from
school at twelve to help with the family
business, which makes his later success all the
more remarkable.
Research Box
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Timing is of the Essence
Now that you are ready to start your research,
please pace yourself. You should not leave
research until the last minute. Identify several
sources, and then set to work quickly, educating
yourself on the issues at hand. Enjoy the
opportunity, and good luck!
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PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, BA,
MEd, MA, 2007.
The End