Writing the Modern Research Paper

1. Writing the Modern Research Paper Part Three: Chapter 18 The Writer as Researcher

2. The Mission is to limit: • General Subject • Advertising • Topic • Ethics and Methods of Advertising • Sub-topic • Subliminal messages in advertising • Research Question • Should subliminal messages in advertising be banned?

3. Understanding the Difference between and finding a Research Subject and Topic: • The Research Topic: • A particular aspect of a larger field of knowledge. • Subject > Topic > Research Question > Thesis • To Understand Subjects • Check The Readers’ Guide • The Card (or Computer) Catalogue

4. Selecting an Appropriate Research Subject • Begin by considering several subject and topic: • Even assigned subjects require creative thinking. • Look for ways to make your approach different from your classmates. • Free Choice Subjects: • Begin thinking about this NOW.

5. Trying to Limit Yourself Through the Library: Trying to Limit in Yourself • Reviewing Your Interests • Record Subject Ideas • Encyclopedias • Current Books • Using the Index • The Readers’ Guide

6. What is the Readers’ Guide? • One of the indexes, and the best known, in which magazines are listed. • Publications for the Modern Language Association (PMLA) is also one. • Readers Guide emphasizes popular magazines (Time, Newsweek, Popular Mechanics) • Use to get an overview of a subject as well as an idea about major topics within a subject.

7. The Social Issues Resources Series (SIRS) • Over 30 different subjects titled and numbered on the spine • Three ring binders contain hundreds of short up-to-date articles on dozens of subjects. • Quick Reference Guide lists subjects, volumes

8. Moving from Subject to a Research Topic • Focusing Your Efforts • Don’t bounce around too long. • If not you will create a scattered superficial research paper. • Go Online • Record Potential topics • Discovery Techniques • Free writing • Clustering