The choices you make in life often require you to find and use information. Where do you go to find this information? Is the information that you use trustworthy, accurate, timely, and relevant? How can you differentiate partisanship from impartial reporting? Truth from fiction? In a society where nearly everyone has the ability to reach an audience using a variety of media how can you be sure the information you use is authentic, valid, and reliable?
Create an annotated bibliography of credible sources on your topic. These sources will become the foundation for your research paper. A good paper needs good sources.
The Research Challenge is a series of five tasks, or quests, that will help you to find high-quality, relevant information for your assignment.
Quest 1: Refining your search terms
Quest 2: Finding articles in databases
Quest 3: Finding a book or e-book
Quest 4: Finding a good website
Quest 5: Creating your annotated bibliography
With a topic or research question in mind you are ready to begin looking for the sources which will support your ideas and arguments. But what exactly should you be looking for and where do you go?
Information is available in many different forms and types. You need to decide which ones are best suited for your research needs. Keep in mind that using a variety of information types in your research is always the best way to go.
The Research Challenge was developed at Kapi'olani Community College by Joyce Tokuda, Learning Resources Librarian, and Reid Sunahara, Instructor. The Leeward Community College Library acknowledges the generosity of our KCC colleagues in allowing us to adapt their module for use on our campus.