Curious Researcher : A Guide to Writing Research Papers

by Ballenger, Bruce

• ISBN13: 9780321366498
• ISBN10: 0321366492
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Featuring an engaging, direct writing style and inquiry-based approach, The Curious Researcher stresses that curiosity is the best reason for investigating ideas and information. KEY BENEFIT: Offering a wide variety of examples from writers, this popular guide shows that good research and lively writing do not have to be mutually exclusive. Readers are encouraged to find ways to bring their writing to life, even though they are writing with "facts." Full explanations of the technical aspects of writing and documenting source-based papers help students develop sound research and analysis skills. Topics include information on selecting a research topic, the latest information on Internet research, advice on structuring a research paper, and full treatment of MLA and APA citation formats. Research, General Interest.

Table of Contents

Contents by Subject	xxi
Preface	xxvii
Introduction: Rethinking the Research Paper	1	(26)
EXERCISE 1 Collecting Golf Balls on Driving Ranges and Other Reflections	1	(3)
Learning and Unlearning	4	(1)
Using This Book	4	(3)
The Exercises	4	(1)
The Five-Week Plan	5	(1)
Alternatives to the Five-Week Plan	6	(1)
The Research Paper and the Research Report	7	(1)
Discovering Your Purpose	7	(1)
How Formal Should It Be?	8	(2)
When "Bad" Writing Is Good	9	(1)
Thinking Like an Academic Writer	10	(1)
"Essaying" or Arguing?	10	(2)
The Research Essay and Academic Writing	12	(2)
Becoming an Authority by Using Authorities	14	(1)
"It's Just My Opinion"	15	(1)
Facts Don't Kill	15	(12)
EXERCISE 2 Reflecting on "The Bothersome Beauty of Pigeons" by Bruce Ballenger	16	(9)
The Question Habit	25	(2)
Chapter 1 The First Week	27	(36)
The Importance of Getting Curious	27	(11)
Learning to Wonder Again	27	(1)
Getting the Pot Boiling	28	(4)
EXERCISE 1.1 Building an Interest Inventory	29	(3)
Other Ways to Find a Topic	32	(2)
What Is a Good Topic?	34	(2)
Checking Out Your Tentative Topic	35	(1)
Making the Most of an Assigned Topic	36	(12)
EXERCISE 1.2 The Myth of the Boring Topic	36	(2)
Developing a Working Knowledge	38	(10)
EXERCISE 1.3 Getting a Lay of the Land	39	(1)
The Reference Librarian: A Living Source	40	(1)
The Library of Congress Subject Headings: Your Topic in the Larger Landscape	40	(2)
Encyclopedias and Surveying the Landscape	42	(2)
Surveying the Electronic Landscape	44	(1)
Subject Search	44	(4)
Narrowing the Subject	48	(7)
Circling the Lighthouse	50	(1)
From Landscape Shots to Close-Ups	51	(7)
EXERCISE 1.4 Finding the Questions	51	(2)
EXERCISE 1.5 Finding the Focusing Question	53	(1)
EXERCISE 1.6 Finding the Relationship	53	(2)
Possible Purposes for a Research Assignment	55	(3)
EXERCISE 1.7 Research Proposal	57	(1)
Reading for Research	58	(5)
EXERCISE 1.8 Ways of Reading to Write	58	(5)
Chapter One	58	(2)
Reading Rhetorically	60	(1)
Reading like an Outsider	61	(2)
Chapter 2 The Second Week	63	(52)
Developing a Research Strategy	63	(14)
The Internet Itch: Should You Scratch It First?	64	(1)
Library Research Strategy	64	(4)
Moving from General to Specific	65	(1)
Evaluating Library Sources	65	(8)
Why Journal Articles Are Better Than Magazine Articles	66	(1)
Look for Often-Cited Authors	67	(1)
Primary over Secondary Sources	67	(1)
Not All Books Are Alike	67	(1)
Internet Research Strategy	68	(1)
Three Drawbacks of Internet Research	69	(1)
Three Reasons to Use the Internet for Research	70	(1)
The Invisible Web	71	(6)
Evaluating Online Sources	73	(11)
Key to Evaluating Internet Sources	74	(3)
Search Languages: Words That Open Doors	77	(5)
Controlled Language Searches	78	(1)
Boolean Searching	78	(2)
Magic Words on the World Wide Web	80	(2)
Developing Deep Knowledge	82	(2)
Library Research Techniques	84	(9)
Finding Books	84	(1)
Understanding Call Numbers	85	(8)
EXERCISE 2.1 Library Investigations	86	(2)
Coming Up Empty-Handed?	88	(1)
Checking Bibliographies	88	(1)
Interlibrary Loan	88	(1)
Finding Magazine and Journal Articles	89	(3)
Newspaper Articles	92	(1)
Internet Research Techniques	93	(4)
Types of Search Engines	94	(3)
EXERCISE 2.2 Investigating the Internet	95	(2)
Living Sources: Interviews and Surveys	97	(18)
Arranging Interviews	97	(9)
Finding Experts	98	(1)
Finding Nonexperts
Affected by Your Topic	99	(1)
Making Contact	100	(1)
Conducting Interviews	100	(3)
Whom to Interview?	101	(1)
What Questions to Ask?	101	(1)
During the Interview	102	(1)
Notetaking	103	(1)
The E-Mail Interview	103	(3)
Finding People on the Internet	103	(1)
Making Contact by E-Mail	104	(1)
The Chat Room Interview	105	(1)
Deciding What to Ask	105	(1)
Finding a Group on Your Topic	106	(1)
Planning Informal Surveys	106	(5)
Defining Goals and Audience	106	(1)
Types of Questions	107	(1)
Survey Design	108	(3)
Avoid Loaded Questions	108	(1)
Avoid Vague Questions	108	(2)
Drawbacks of Open-Ended Questions	110	(1)
Designing Your Multiple-Choice Questions	110	(1)
Continuum Questions	110	(1)
Planning for Distribution	111	(1)
Conducting Surveys	111	(4)
Distribution	111	(1)
The Internet Survey	112	(3)
Chapter 3 The Third Week	115	(50)
Writing in the Middle	115	(22)
Becoming an Activist Notetaker	116	(4)
EXERCISE 3.1 Getting a Word in Edgewise	117	(3)
EXERCISE 3.2 "Say Back" to a Source	120	(1)
Recognizing Plagiarism	120	(1)
I Read What You Said and Borrowed It, Okay?	120	(3)
Why Plagiarism Matters	123	(1)
Sources Are from Mars, Notetakers Are from Venus	123	(9)
Paraphrasing	124	(2)
EXERCISE 3.3 Paraphrase Practice	125	(1)
Summarizing	126	(2)
Quoting	128	(20)
When to Quote	128	(2)
Quoting Fairly	130	(1)
EXERCISE 3.4 How Your Notes Can Make Music	130	(2)
"Self-Assured, Stressed, and Straight," by Kathleen Phalen	132	(5)
Notetaking Techniques	137	(11)
The Double-Entry Journal	140	(8)
Other Notetaking Techniques	148	(7)
The Research Log: A Jay Leno Approach	148	(3)
Narrative Notetaking	151	(4)
First Layer: Story the Source	151	(1)
Second Layer: Rapid Summary	151	(3)
Third Layer: Narrative of Thought	154	(1)
Digging Deeper for Information: Advanced Searching Techniques	155	(10)
First-Level Searching	155	(1)
Second-Level Searching	155	(5)
Essays and Articles Buried in Books	157	(1)
Bibliographies	158	(1)
Unpublished Scholarly Papers	158	(1)
Searching the Invisible Web	159	(1)
Using Specialized Search Engines	159	(1)
Search by Author	160	(1)
Third-Level Searching	160	(5)
Library Sources	160	(1)
Current Periodicals	160	(1)
Audiovisual Departments	160	(1)
Special Collections	161	(1)
Interlibrary Loan	161	(1)
Other Libraries	161	(1)
Nonlibrary Sources	161	(4)
Bookstores	162	(1)
Lectures	162	(1)
TV and Radio	162	(1)
Image Searches	163	(2)
Chapter 4 The Fourth Week	165	(48)
Getting to the Draft	165	(42)
When the Experts Disagree	166	(10)
Evaluating Conflicting Claims	167	(16)
EXERCISE 4.1 Grade Inflation: Myth or Reality?	167	(1)
First Claim: Grading Has Become More Lenient	168	(1)
Opposing Claim: No Substantial Grade Inflation	173	(3)
Follow-Up Discussion	176	(1)
EXERCISE 4.2 Reclaiming Your Topic	176	(1)
An Application Example	177	(5)
Deciding Whether to Say I	182	(1)
Getting Personal without Being Personal	183	(1)
Beginning at the Beginning	183	(6)
Flashlights or Floodlights?	184	(2)
Writing Multiple Leads	186	(3)
EXERCISE 4.3 Three Ways In	187	(2)
Deciding on a Voice	189	(3)
Considering Purpose, Audience, Subject, and Who You Are	189	(3)
The Differing Voices of Research	190	(2)
Writing for Reader Interest	192	(7)
Working the Common Ground	192	(3)
Topics for Which Common Ground Is Hard to Find	194	(1)
Putting People on the Page	195	(1)
Using Case Studies	195	(1)
Using Interviews	195	(1)
Writing a Strong Ending	196	(2)
Endings to Avoid	196	(2)
Using Surprise	198	(1)
Considering Patterns of Development	199	(1)
The Exploratory Research Essay	199	(3)
The Argumentative Research Paper	202	(1)
Writing with Sources	202	(5)
Blending Kinds of Writing and Sources	203	(4)
Handling Quotes	204	(1)
Handling Interview Material	205	(2)
Trusting Your Memory	207	(1)
Citing Sources	207	(6)
An Alternative to Colliding Footnotes	207	(1)
I Hate These Theses to Pieces	208	(2)
Driving Through the First Draft	210	(3)
A Draft Is Something the Wind Blows Through	210	(3)
Chapter 5 The Fifth Week	213	(34)
Revising for Purpose	213	(13)
EXERCISE 5.1 Wrestling with the Draft	214	(2)
The Thesis as a Tool for Revision	216	(5)
EXERCISE 5.2 Dissecting the Fish	220	(1)
Using a Reader	221	(2)
What You Need from a Reader	221	(4)
EXERCISE 5.3 Directing the Reader's Response	222	(1)
Attacking the Draft	223	(3)
EXERCISE 5.4 Cut-and-Paste Revision	223	(2)
Examining the Wreckage	225	(1)
Revising for Information	226	(1)
Finding Quick Facts	226	(1)
Revising for Language	227	(11)
Listening to the Voice	227	(2)
Avoid Sounding Glib	229	(1)
How to Control Information	229	(3)
Scrutinizing Paragraphs	232	(1)
How Well Do You Integrate Sources?	232	(1)
Is Each Paragraph Unified?	232	(1)
Scrutinizing Sentences	232	(5)
Using Active Voice	232	(2)
Using Strong Verbs	234	(1)
Varying Sentence Length	234	(2)
Editing for Simplicity	236	(2)
EXERCISE 5.5 Cutting Clutter	237	(1)
Stock Phrases in Research Papers	237	(1)
Preparing the Final Manuscript	238	(8)
Considering "Reader-Friendly" Design	239	(1)
Following MLA Conventions	240	(1)
Proofreading Your Paper	240	(9)
Proofreading on a Computer	240	(1)
Looking Closely	241	(1)
EXERCISE 5.6 Picking Off the Lint	241	(1)
Ten Common Mistakes	242	(2)
Using the "Find" Function	244	(1)
Avoiding Sexist Language	245	(1)
Looking Back and Moving On	246	(1)
Appendix A Guide to MLA Style	247	(58)
Part One: Citing Sources in Your Essay	249	(10)
1.1 When to Cite	249	(1)
The Common Knowledge Exception	249	(1)
1.2 The MLA Author/Page System	249	(10)
The Basics of Using Parenthetical Citation	250	(7)
1.2.1 Placement of Citations	251	(2)
1.2.2 When You Mention the Author's Name	253	(1)
1.2.3 When There Is No Author	253	(1)
1.2.4 Works by the Same Author	254	(1)
1.2.5 Indirect Sources	255	(1)
1.2.6 Personal Interviews	256	(1)
1.2.7 Several Sources in a Single Citation	256	(1)
Sample Parenthetical References for Other Sources	257	(2)
1.2.8 An Entire Work	257	(1)
1.2.9 A Volume of a Multivolume Work	257	(1)
1.2.10 Several Sources for a Single Passage	257	(1)
1.2.11 A Literary Work	257	(1)
1.2.12 An Online Source	258	(1)
Part Two: Format	259	(4)
2.1 The Layout	259	(4)
2.1.1 Printing or Typing	259	(1)
2.1.2 Margins and Spacing	259	(1)
2.1.3 Title Page	260	(1)
2.1.4 Pagination	260	(1)
2.1.5 Placement of Tables, Charts, and Illustrations	260	(1)
2.1.6 Handling Titles	261	(1)
2.1.7 Italics and Underlinings	262	(1)
2.1.8 Language and Style	262	(1)
Names	262	(1)
Ellipsis	262	(1)
Quotations	262	(1)
Part Three: Preparing the "Works Cited" Page	263	(29)
3.1 Format	264	(1)
Alphabetizing the List	264	(1)
Indenting and Spacing	264	(1)
3.2 Citing Books	265	(7)
Title	266	(1)
Edition	266	(1)
Publication Place, Publisher, and Date	266	(1)
Page Numbers	266	(1)
Sample Book Citations	267	(1)
3.2.1 A Book by One Author	267	(1)
3.2.2 A Book by Two Authors	267	(1)
3.2.3 A Book with More Than Three Authors	267	(1)
3.2.4 Several Books by the Same Author	267	(1)
3.2.5 A Collection or Anthology	268	(1)
3.2.6 A Work in a Collection or Anthology	268	(1)
3.2.7 An Introduction, Preface, Foreword, or Prologue	268	(1)
3.2.8 A Book with No Author	269	(1)
3.2.9 An Encyclopedia	269	(1)
3.2.10 A Book with an Institutional Author	269	(1)
3.2.11 A Book with Multiple Volumes	269	(1)
3.2.12 A Book That Is Not a First Edition	270	(1)
3.2.13 A Book Published Before 1900	270	(1)
3.2.14 A Translation	270	(1)
3.2.15 Government Documents	270	(1)
3.2.16 A Book That Was Republished	271	(1)
3.2.17 An Online Book	271	(1)
3.3 Citing Periodicals	272	(5)
Author's Name	272	(1)
Article Title	272	(1)
Periodical Title	272	(1)
Volume Number	272	(1)
Date	273	(1)
Page Numbers	273	(1)
Sample Periodical Citations	273	(1)
3.3.1 A Magazine Article	273	(1)
3.3.2 A Journal Article	274	(1)
3.3.3 A Newspaper Article	274	(1)
3.3.4 An Article with No Author	275	(1)
3.3.5 An Editorial	275	(1)
3.3.6 A Letter to the Editor	276	(1)
3.3.7 A Review	276	(1)
3.3.8 An Abstract	276	(1)
3.4 Citing Nonprint and Other Sources	277	(4)
3.4.1 An Interview	277	(1)
3.4.2 Surveys, Questionnaires, and Case Studies	278	(1)
3.4.3 Recordings	278	(1)
3.4.4 Television and Radio Programs	279	(1)
3.4.5 Films, Videotapes, and DVD	279	(1)
3.4.6 Artwork	280	(1)
3.4.7 An Advertisement	280	(1)
3.4.8 Lectures and Speeches	280	(1)
3.4.9 Pamphlets	281	(1)
3.5 Citing CD-Roms and Other "Portable" Databases	281	(2)
3.5.1 A Nonperiodical Database	281	(1)
3.5.2 A Periodical Database	282	(1)
3.6 Citing Online Databases	283	(9)
Other Recent Changes by the MLA	284	(1)
Is It Also in Print?	284	(1)
Address Mistakes Are Fatal	285	(1)
Sample Online Citations	286	(1)
3.6.1 An Article	286	(1)
3.6.2 An Article or Abstract in a Library Database	286	(1)
3.6.3 An Online Book	287	(3)
3.6.4 A Personal or Professional Web Site	290	(1)
3.6.5 An Online Posting	290	(1)
3.6.6 An E-Mail Message	291	(1)
3.6.7 A Sound Clip	291	(1)
3.6.8 An Interview	292	(1)
3.6.9 Synchronous Communication (MOOS, MUDS, IRCS)	292	(1)
Part Four: Student Essay in MLA Style	292	(13)
"Big Picture Dreams" by Carolyn Thorne	294	(11)
Appendix B Guide to APA Style	305	(38)
Part One: How the Essay Should Look	308	(6)
1.1 The Layout	308	(6)
1.1.1 Page Format	308	(1)
1.1.2 Title Page	308	(1)
1.1.3 Abstract	309	(1)
1.1.4 Body of the Paper	309	(2)
1.1.5 Handling Quoted Material	311	(1)
1.1.6 References Page	312	(1)
1.1.7 Appendix	312	(1)
1.1.8 Notes	312	(1)
1.1.9 Tables and Figures	313	(1)
1.1.10 Language and Style	313	(1)
Part Two: Citing Sources in Your Essay	314	(4)
2.1 The APA Author/Page System	314	(4)
2.1.1 When the Author Is Mentioned in the Text	314	(1)
2.1.2 When the Author Isn't Mentioned in the Text	314	(1)
2.1.3 When to Cite Page Numbers	314	(1)
2.1.4 A Single Work by Two or More Authors	315	(1)
2.1.5 A Work with No Author	315	(1)
2.1.6 Two or More Works by the Same Author	315	(1)
2.1.7 An Institutional Author	316	(1)
2.1.8 Multiple Works in the Same Parentheses	316	(1)
2.1.9 Interviews, E-Mail, and Letters	317	(1)
2.1.10 New Editions of Old Works	317	(1)
2.1.11 A Web Site	317	(1)
Part Three: Preparing the "References" List	318	(13)
3.1 Order of Sources	318	(1)
3.2 Order of Information	318	(2)
Author	318	(1)
Date	319	(1)
Article or Book Title	319	(1)
Periodical Title and Publication Information	319	(1)
3.3 Sample References	320	(6)
3.3.1 A Journal Article	320	(1)
3.3.2 A Journal Article Not Paginated Continuously	320	(1)
3.3.3 A Magazine Article	320	(1)
3.3.4 A Newspaper Article	321	(1)
3.3.5 A Book	321	(1)
3.3.6 A Book or Article with More Than One Author	321	(1)
3.3.7 A Book or Article with an Unknown Author	321	(1)
3.3.8 An Encyclopedia Entry	322	(1)
3.3.9 A Book with an Institutional Author	322	(1)
3.3.10 A Book with an Editor	322	(1)
3.3.11 A Selection in a Book with an Editor	323	(1)
3.3.12 A Republished Work	323	(1)
3.3.13 An Abstract	323	(1)
3.3.14 A Source Mentioned by Another Source	324	(1)
3.3.15 A Book Review	324	(1)
3.3.16 A Government Document	324	(1)
3.3.17 A Letter to the Editor	324	(1)
3.3.18 A Published Interview	325	(1)
3.3.19 A Film or Videotape	325	(1)
3.3.20 A Television Program	325	(1)
3.3.21 A Musical Recording	326	(1)
3.3.22 A Computer Program	326	(1)
3.4 Citing Electronic Sources	326	(5)
3.4.1 An Electronic Version of an Article Also in Print	326	(1)
3.4.2 An Article Only on the Internet	327	(1)
3.4.3 An Electronic Text	327	(1)
3.4.4 An Article or Abstract from a Library Database	328	(1)
3.4.5 A Part of a Work	328	(1)
3.4.6 An Online Journal	329	(1)
3.4.7 A Newspaper Article	329	(1)
3.4.8 A Web Page	329	(1)
3.4.9 Discussion Lists	330	(1)
3.4.10 E-Mail	331	(1)
3.4.11 CD-ROM Databases and Encyclopedias	331	(1)
Part Four: Sample Paper in APA Style	331	(12)
"What's Love Got to Do with It? Compatability and Marital Success" by Jennifer Suittor	333	(10)
Appendix C Tips for Researching and Writing Papers on Literary Topics	343	(24)
Mine the Primary Source	343	(1)
Search Strategies	344	(3)
Researching the Author	345	(1)
Biographies	345	(1)
Primary Bibliographies	345	(1)
Researching the Critics	346	(1)
Researching the Genre or Tradition	346	(1)
Sample Essay: Personal Response	347	(12)
"I Can Relate to It" Is Only a Start	348	(1)
"Breaking the 'Utter Silence': A Response to Orwell's 'Marrakech'," by Kazuko Kuramoto	349	(10)
Sample Critical Essay: Formal Response	359	(8)
"Nature as Being: Landscape in Silko's 'Lullaby'," by Julie Bird	360	(7)
Index	367