Online Databases

First, a reminder about research: Research ain't easy! No one is going to hand you sources on a silver platter when you type in your first search. You have to try, try, try again --and again and again and again and again. (And again, again, again.) You will hit many dead ends in your research. But this is what research is all about: reading, searching, circling around, hitting dead ends, judging if an article is relevant or useful for the position you are taking. Is there anything here that can help support my argument? Constantly ask yourself this question and be prepared to read through a lot of material that is not helpful. Making a judgment about the article's usefulness is the essence of research. A lot of people have been asking to change their topic because they "can't find anything." This is not an option. Don't give up just because it's hard.

One other reminder: please read before asking questions. Don't underestimate your own ability to figure it out and solve the problem on your own. When you click on the link for ProQuest and SIRS, read through the list and find the links yourself.


FOUR USEFUL STARTING POINTS:

1. FirstSearch
http://www.firstsearch.oclc.org/
When using FirstSearch, I recommend using the WilsonSelectPlus database because it provides a lot of full-text articles. WorldCat can also be useful, especially if you click on the "internet" tab -- sometimes there will be links to articles on the internet.

2. ProQuest OneSearch
3. SIRS Researcher
http://www.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/research/database_atoz.php
ProQuest and SIRS are both excellent databases that cover a wide range of newspaper, magazine, and other articles. Many of these are full-text articles (meaning you don't have to go to the library to get them). However to use these databases, you have to have a Chicago Public Library card. So be sure to bring your library card to school every day! And if you don't have a library card, GET ONE! Go to the library with a piece of mail showing your address and ask how you can apply for a library card. SIRS also has sections called "Pro vs. Con" and "Leading Issues" that group articles by topic and highlight the best ones for student research.

4. Newsbank
http://www.infoweb.newsbank.com
Search Chicago newspapers. Username and password: 1140

I also recommend that you actually go to the public library to do research. This is your homework, after all; you are expected to do some of your research outside of school. We will continue to work on this in class, but you must also work on it at home and at the public library.

Finding a Topic

Researched Argument – Topic Ideas

Education/Youth
affirmative action
trying violent juveniles as adults
intelligent design vs evolution taught in public schools
religion in public schools (prayer, clubs, etc.)
child/teen curfews
Gay-friendly high school in Chicago
military recruitment in high schools/military academies in Chicago
advertising in high schools
school cafeteria options
magnet schools in Chicago
charter schools
advertising of alcohol directed at youth
drug testing in schools/on job, for IHSA participation
online grades
athletics/grades policy at North-Grand/general participation in high school sports
freshman participation in athletics
required PE in high school
dress policy in public school
college application process
proving necessity/importance of arts education
graduation requirements
required pledge of allegiance in high school
standardized testing as a way to judge high schools / determining college admissions
going away vs. staying home for college
character education in public schools
school lunches/ nutrition
obesity in teens
developing emotional intelligence in school-age children
effects of teenage sleep deprivation
censorship of internet in schools
late start to school day
no child left behind - school failure/probation
underage drinking
pros and cons of AP courses, honors courses, tracking, weighted grades
impact of class sizes on learning environment
service learning requirement in schools
alternative grading procedures
year-round school
home school
steroid use in high schools
media’s influence on teenage body image
honor code/academic integrity
tuition vouchers for private school
longer school day
achievement gap across socioeconomic/racial/ethnic lines
homework
bullying in schools
Academic requirements for student-athletes
Should school libraries subscribe to non-academic magazines?
Politics/Government/Rights
electoral college
instant run-off election
capital punishment
welfare
mandatory minimum sentencing
second amendment restrictions/rights
adoption of children by gay parents
civil union/gay marriage/Proposition 8
Patriot Act
FISA
Stimulus Package – balancing cutting taxes w/ investing in infrastructure/job creation?
taxes/flat vs. progressive tax/deficit spending/tax cuts
getting young people to vote/participate/engage in politics
Richard Daley

Health/Safety
stem cell research
universal health care
smoking bans in workplace, public places
assisted suicide
cell phones/texting in cars, punishments
identifying and treating adolescent depression

Environment/Energy/Food
drilling for oil in Alaska/offshore
alternative energy sources/investment
Subsidies for agriculture/farm policy
Local food movement

Sports
genetic screening for susceptibility to diseases (Eddy Curry)
athletics and eating disorders
minimum age for NBA, NFL, MLB draft
steroid use in MLB
designated hitter in MLB
revenue sharing in professional sports

Society/Entertainment
illegal downloading movies/music/games
arranged marriage
is wal-mart good for a community/neighborhood/country?
effects of TV or video games on youth
segregation in schools, neighborhoods
getting rid of / keeping the penny
Cameras at intersections for traffic/selling drugs
incentives for participating in charity events

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One of the best ways to explore research topics is to read the newspaper: current events and issues that make the news are often controversial and worthy of further research. And futhermore, they lend themselves to argumentation (taking sides on an issue, making an argument, using evidence to persuade...)

If one of these articles catches your interest, do a search of recent stories relating to the topic.

Should the US take a more active role in Darfur?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/opinion/19kristof.html (opinion article)

Should university students expect to get at least a B in a course if they attend the lectures? And should grades be based more on effort than the quality of the work?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/education/18college.html (news article)

Should the NFL pay for retired players' medical expenses when they have expensive football-related injuries (including dementia) and can no longer pay for their own care?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100539758 (opinion article)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98668764 (opinion article)

Should there be more black head college football coaches? Should the BCS system be changed? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99055694 (opinion article)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98336093

Should Manny Ramirez get a portion of the stimulus bill? Isn't he already rich enough?
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/scott_boras_able_to_get?utm_source=a-section (satire)

Should CPS close schools that don't meet requirements for student test scores? Should the schools be replaced with charter schools and other privately-run educational companies?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-cps-studiesfeb18,0,4051048.story (news article)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-las-casas-closing-city-zonefeb12,0,6953984.story (news article)

Has the No Child Left Behind legislation helped or hurt students? Should it be renewed, changed, or totally eliminated?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/content/education/chi-duncan-classroom-17dec17,0,1937617.story (news article)

Should people be allowed to own firearms, as the second amendment provides? Should firearm ownership be prohibited or limited in any way?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-nance-holt-city-zonefeb20,0,4491316.story (news article)

Is online learning the future of education? Are ipod lectures more effective than traditional classes?
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2009/02/iprof-experiment-shows-podcasted-lectures-more-effective-than-the-real-thing.html (opinion article)

Should there be a "faith-based office" of the White House? Should faith-based organizations be eligible for federal funding (money from the federal government)? If so, should these organizations be allowed to restrict their hiring to believers?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-faith-basedfeb06,0,5145471.story (news article)

Should President Obama wear a raincoat and/or use an umbrella in the rain? Should he walk briskly or should he walk at a medium or slower pace?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-president-departure,0,708786.story (news article)

Should we drink tap water instead of bottled water?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/11/18/4926e8a202efc (opinion article)

Should it be legal everywhere to hang your laundry out to dry on a line?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/08/11/48a0b3c650e26 (opinion article)

Should the government pay farmers to grow corn in order to produce more ethanol? Is this really helpful for the environment?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/07/09/48779b5be8969 (opinion article)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/opinion/04pollan.html (opinion article)

Should industrial farmers be allowed to keep animals in tiny cages that allow the animal little or no movement?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/07/11/4877b66f210cc (opinion article)

Should we consume more (spend more money) to get the economy growing again?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/11/27/493574c4351d0 (opinion article)

Is soil erosion a problem on our farms, and if so, what should be done about it?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/opinion/05berry.html (opinion article)

Which is more important, conservation or efficiency? Which should be our focus if we are serious about being good stewards of the land?
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2009/02/11/499c917ec7056 (opinion article)

Can one person make a difference when it comes to global warming/climate change?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp (opinion article)

Research Scavenger Hunt!

In the computer lab today you will complete a short scavenger hunt. Why, you ask? Simple: 1.) to have fun and 2.) to start learning about the parts of a research paper. (By the way, for the next seven weeks, we'll be working on a research paper! omg, isn't that exciting!)

You can work with a partner to do this, but you have to turn in your own sheet with only your name and your responses on it. Don't let anyone copy your work! Only work with someone if he/she is willing to do his/her share of the work.

After you have taken out a sheet of looseleaf paper, open a second browser wondow so you can flip back and forth between this page (your instructions) and the website where you'll be scavenging (hunting around).

After you finish reading this paragraph, you will go to a website that has two sample research papers written by students. When you get to the website, click on "Sample Papers" in the ORANGE "Humanities/MLA" section. (Don't click on the sample papers in the blue, green, or purple bars.) The scavenger hunt will pertain to the MLA sample papers by Paul Levi and Angela Daly (both papers are on the same topic: cell phones and driving). Check the names to be sure you have the right papers. If you can't find the papers, reread these instructions and try again.

The website is www.dianahacker.com/resdoc.

SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTIONS: (Note: Complete as many as you can! If you get stuck on one, get help or skip it and come back later. Write complete sentences!)
1. How many pages does Angela Daly's paper have?
2. Look at Levi's paper and Daly's paper. Explain each writer's position on the issue of cell phones and driving.
3. Copy Levi's thesis.
4. Both writer's locate their thesis statements in the same place. Where?
5. Which paper includes an outline?
6. What information is included in parentheses throughout both papers?
7. Why do you think this information in parentheses is included?
8. What is a signal phrase?
9. Find one example of logical evidence (logos!) used by either Levi or Daly to support his/her thesis.
10. What information is included on the "Works Cited" page?
11. How is the information arranged on the Works Cited page?
12. Who wrote the article "Phone Use Faulted in Collision" in the Washington Post newspaper?
13. What newspaper does Corey Kilgannon write for?
14. Where does Paul Levi address the counter-argument in his paper? Explain how he uses this technique to his advantage.
15. How long are most paragraphs in these two papers?
16. Read both conclusions. If you were going to teach someone how to write a conclusion based on these examples, what would you say?