Researching
The readings for this week all focused on research and applying research in literature. I was not looking forward to starting my research for this project, but the tips offered in these chapters makes it seem a little more manageable. As I begin my research this week, I think I will begin by doing some preliminary research. I want to spend my first day of research getting comfortable with the keywords associated with our topic and try to find as many sources of credible information as possible. I will make a list of all of these sources so that I can easily go back to each one. Throughout the week, I will then spend a few hours each day going back to these websites and locating as much information that can be used in our paper as possible. If I handle two or three websites per day, I can have a huge list of information at the end of the week, assuming that I find enough credible sites during my preliminary research. My group is using google docs to compile a list of all of our sources. As I review each source during my research, I will add it to my group's list along with major points of interest and things that we can incorporate into our paper, as well as locations within the site for each piece of information. While I am researching I will also look for links to other possible websites that may contain the information that I am looking for.
After I have exhausted my list, I will most likely also take a quick look at the sources that the other members of my group have posted. While they have already researched these websites, there may be some information that was not important to the section that they were researching but may be vital to my own research. I would mostly just give these sights a quick pass over to see if anything catches my eye since they may be completely unrelated to the section of the topic that I am researching. I would not want to skip a potentially good source of information just because someone else had already read it.
Tips R13
I also think that "the tips offered in these chapters makes it seem a little more manageable" in regard to the research. I like your idea of taking the reading from “tip” point of view and not as though it is teaching us for the first time. At this point in our lives we have done countless research on various topics. I know I can only speak for myself but I am set in my ways of research because I know what works for me and what does not. That’s why I took this weeks reading with a grain of salt. It’s great to have new suggestions but I know that they won’t all have a great impact on my research technique.
Shane
Huge List
I am a little nervous when I read your statement about creating a huge list. I think one of the important things to take from the reading is that your ability to summarize the research you did is crucial. The list you come up with should not seem huge. If you have a lot of data, I suggest your structure it well and prioritize it so that your group members can understand it better. Too little information may be bad, but too much information is not much better. You should strive for a balance.