Research Process

Frame Your Research Question

Around the topic (relationships)

With exploratory language (doesn’t suggest you already have an answer)

Simple straight-forward matter-of-fact manner.

1. What is my real personal interest in the topic?

2. What do I specifically want to learn about my topic?(Don't overwhelm yourself with too many things. Two or three are plenty.) Start your Statement of Purpose with words like "I want to learn about..."

Around the Topic

Relationships…Types Cultural comparison Effects of X on

sibling marriage/countries divorce

love gays out/countries death

frienemies family loyalty/countries distance

professional caste systems/slavery poverty

mentor/tee being single as a choice age differences

rivalry international adoption success

Businessbody language education

Exploratory Language

How does _____ affect the ____ of relationships?Is there a difference in how ______ conduct ________ relationships?Why do people…. What reasons are there for….In comparing ____ and ____, what common traits and distinct differences about _____ emerge?What? How? Why? Does/Do?

Simple, Straightforward

A) If so many people believe in monogamy, then why does poligamy persist in some places in the United States and in other places in the world?

B) Why is poligamy still around? C) Since poligamy is unfair to women, how can

it be constitutional and legal?

Key Word - Synonym List

Why is polygamy still around?

Marriage history polygamist culture

Mormon religion African marriage rites

History polygamy multiple wives

Multiple husbands marriage laws

Muslim religion harem (?)

Modern polygamy HBO’s “Big Love” (?)

Types of Information

Statistics, numbers

photographs Video, film, audio

Poems addressing your topic

Data comparisons

Artistic representations

Newspaper articles about recent events on your topic

First person accounts or interviews

Historical summaries

Articles by vested experts

Encyclopedia summaries of your topic

Quotes from experts who’ve studied it

Historical narratives

Articles by non-vested journalists

Op-ed articles and columns in newspapers

Recent findings as reported in magazines

The facts Are Hidden…

ELM

What Types of Information do I Want?

My question: Why is polygamy still around?First person accountsIt’s history - where was it, where it died outNumbers - % of polygamists around world and where they areInterviews, opinion pieces about why people choose polygamy.Court cases, findings, changes in laws?

I’m Ready to Start Researching

(Oh wait, all that other stuff was researching too)

This is the part where I will do exactly what Mr. Lundholm tells me. (Await thunderous applause and rays of sunshine cascading down upon

your shoulders)

I Found It (Okay, I found over 500 Its…kinda scary)

First result was an article about South Africa President marrying a third wife.

Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa, has taken himself a wife.(The Week)(Brief article).National Reviewﾊ62.1 ﾊ (Jan 25, 2010): ﾊ p.12. ﾊ (114 ﾊ words) ﾊ Show detailsFull Text :COPYRIGHT 2010 National Review, Inc.Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa, has taken himself a wife. That makes three: Polygamy is traditional among Mr. Zuma's people, the Zulus, and is legal in South Africa. There have also been two former wives (suicide, divorced). In addition to the three current wives, Mr. Zuma has a fiancee, Gloria Bongi Ngema, age unknown. Estimates of the number of Mr. Zuma's children range from 10 to 19, either two or three of them by the lady he has just wed, and one by the aforementioned fiancee. Mr. Zuma is 67 years old. His supporters are wont to describe him as a "Zulu traditionalist." A conservative, then? We have alerted our Subscriptions Department.Source Citation"Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa, has taken himself a wife." National Review 25 Jan. 2010: 12. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. <http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=moun43602>.

Don’t Go to a New Source Yet

Open a Word doc.

Paste the link to the article.

Copy and paste the citation.

email to yourself.

Use note cards.

Note Cards Write only one source on a note card

“Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa, has taken himself a wife.” National Review 25 Jan. 2010: 12 Student Resource Center

- Gale. 3 February 2010. About…polygamy of South Af Pres…Zulu tribe in Africa

…b/c maybe too specific

Source Citation

About Notes

Note Cards Write only one main point on a note card

“Jacob Zuma, the president of South Africa, has taken himself a wife.” National Review 25 Jan. 2010: 12 Student Resource Center

- Gale. 3 February 2010. About…polygamy of South Af Pres…Zulu tribe in Africa

…b/c maybe too specific

Source Citation

About Notes

Writing your Thesis Statement

You will develop a thesis statement about your research topic after you have done some actual research into the topic. You will then present your thesis statement in your introduction, prove it with evidence in the body of your paper, project, or presentation, and finally restate it along with a summary of your evidence in your conclusion.

Congratulations! You’re on your way!