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MHS Research Guide

2. Research

2. Research

Once you have a clear idea of the questions you hope to answer and the thesis you intend to use, it's time to begin the research process. You'll likely refer to the resources found when you click "Research" above. Here are some tips to consider:

General Tips:

Explore a variety of resources (various databases, web searches, multimedia, related organizations, experts, etc.)
Consider the best keywords. Do you need to read an encyclopedia article to build background knowledge and gather additional search terms/synonyms?
When you find a good resource, explore it fully. Check the visuals, check for related links and topics.
Skim resources:
- - To skim, get an idea of the length and organization, read title, headings, first and last sentences and glance at the visuals.
  - Does the resource seem to align with your topic, thesis & research questions? If so, save it properly so you can return to it later.

Keyword Searching:

Topic: Margaret Atwood and the theme of survival in her novels

Keywords: Margaret Atwood | theme | survival | novels

Use unique words: tigers (too general) vs. Bengal tigers (more specific)
Multi-Step Process: Do your initial search, scan first few results, revise your search terms, if needed. You might decide to use 'author' or 'writing' or 'fiction'
Narrow Search: If keywords produce too much information, revise your search by adding additional key words.
Check Spelling: centre vs. center or team vs teem

What Makes a News Story Fake?

Can't Be Verified: Check snopes.com to see if the story has already been reported as false or partially false.
Appeals to Emotion: Are you happy? Angry? Afraid? These emotions ensure you won't do any pesky fact-checking before sharing the story with everyone you know.
Authors Usually Aren't Experts: Search for some background on the author so that you can determine for yourself whether they're an authority on the topic.
Can't Be Found Anywhere Else: Can you verify the facts on additional reliable websites? Remember to read laterally; open new tabs to check the information.
Fake Sites: Did your article come from a news site with .co after in the URL (example: www.cnn.co)? Does the site boldly state "NOT Fake News!" If a site has to claim they are telling the truth, they might be misleading you.