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Discovery Research Log


Through this semester, you will continually research a topic that you are interested pertaining to our Triad theme: “stories of freedom”. To help you remain on-track, and to help me make sure that you are not falling behind, you will keep an up to date research log. This is simply a log to help you keep track of the information you find as you continually research and discover this semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To download the Discovery Log template, click here​.

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  • What is your research question(s)?

  • Date and time spent for each of your research sessions

  • Keywords you use for each search; how you determined them.

  • Tools: databases, search engines, reference from other source, etc.

  • List author, title, and the link to the source for each result you consulted / read / or determined as useful

  • Notes for each source, recording what you thought was useful / interesting; including quotes, paraphrases, data, etc. that contributes to your learning.

  • For any individual items you identify in your search sessions, be sure you record necessary information to find these sources of information again (permalinks, URLs, author, title, publisher, date, page #s, etc.)

    • For individual items (article, web page, chapter, news report, image, etc.) that you investigate further (read, skim, etc.), write yourself a note that summarizes what the item contributes to your learning. Copy significant quotes or data. These are notes for you, so you can remember what you are learning.​

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Making Connections...

  • As you research, read, and learn about your focus, you will begin to identify its parts, and the connections among the parts.  In addition, as you identify and read more sources, you'll begin to recognize how they relate to one another, as if they were in conversation-agreeing, expanding, disagreeing, offering different perspectives, etc.

  • Regularly, as you engage in more research, you will be looking at this bigger picture and writing about these connections or developing a mind map or a visual concept map.  In other words, you will be developing a fuller understanding of your focus, identifying its scope, its parts, and their connections.​

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What Should Each Entry Include?

Entries (click on the date to access the class plan when we started that entry)

1. Research Thinking Map 1/23

  • This can be found in the Blackboard Folder: Content​.  

  • Focus: Figure out what freedom means to you! You can use Google for this since I am not looking for specific scholarly, peer reviewed sources.

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2. Memo to Supervisor 2/1

  • Based on the library visit we had on February 1st, write a memo to my supervisor.  Check the 2/1 class page for more details.  

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3. Research Practice 2/10

  • ​In order to add another entry to your Discovery Log, create one of the following:

    • Mind Map

    • Listing

    • Free write

    • Outline

    • Charts

  • For this entry, include the following: 

    • ​State the Topic-What is your focus?

    • Keywords-what keywords did you use?

    • Sites visited-what worked and what didn't

    • What are some themes related to this topic?

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4. Scholarship and Conversation 2/10

  • Pick a source based on the topic related to freedom that you have been researching. Follow the conversation (at least 3 sources). â€‹What do I mean by follow the conversation?​

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5. Source Entry Practice 2/17

  • For your next entry, pick one source from your 4th entry.  

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6. Seminar Textbook Research 2/22

  • For this entry, you will be using the questions from the "What Should Each Entry Include" section to locate information from your history textbook.  This is will be part of your Online Exhibit research.

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7. Seminar Library Research 2/27

  • Template

  • Log your seminar visit to the library using the document above.

    • ​Make space after each bullet point for your entries.  Be sure to cover each bullet point for full credit. You will be looking at more than one database/journal for this log.  Therefore, under tools, be sure to put each database/journal you looked at.  As for the notes and necessary information bullet, make sure to indicate which source you are pulling information from. ​

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8.Online Exhibit Source #1 3/1

  • Template

  • Make space after each bullet point for your entries.  Be sure to cover each bullet point for full credit. Focus on a source that you will be able to use for the Online Exhibit.  This source will be used for the Interview Questions process and for the actual exhibit itself.

    • ​Under the notes section of the template, identify key points from the Knowledge Practices and Dispositions and make connections to what you experienced working on Discovery Log #8. 

      • ACRL's Framework for Information Literacy (located in Blackboard>Readings)

        • Information Creation as a Process (p. 5)​

        • Information Has Value (p. 6)

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9. Online Exhibit Source #2 3/3

  • Use the same template from Discovery Log #8

  • Follow the conversation from Discovery Log #8.  Look at the reference/works cited/bibliography page.  Try to find a source that can help you continue to research your topic. 

    • ​Make space after each bullet point for your entries.  Be sure to cover each bullet point for full credit. Focus on a source that you will be able to use for the Online Exhibit.  This source will be used for the Interview Questions process and for the actual exhibit itself.

    • Try to have at least 3-5 quotes from each source.

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10. Online Exhibit Source #3 3/6

  • Use the same template from Discovery Log #8

  • Follow the conversation from Discovery Log #8 or #9.  Look at the reference/works cited/bibliography page.  Try to find a source that can help you continue to research your topic. 

    • ​Make space after each bullet point for your entries.  Be sure to cover each bullet point for full credit. Focus on a source that you will be able to use for the Online Exhibit.  This source will be used for the Interview Questions process and for the actual exhibit itself.

    • Try to have at least 3-5 quotes from each source.

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11. Online Exhibit Source #4 3/6

  • Use the same template from Discovery Log #8

  • Follow the conversation from Discovery Log #8, #9, or #10.  Look at the reference/works cited/bibliography page.  Try to find a source that can help you continue to research your topic. 

    • ​Make space after each bullet point for your entries.  Be sure to cover each bullet point for full credit. Focus on a source that you will be able to use for the Online Exhibit.  This source will be used for the Interview Questions process and for the actual exhibit itself.

    • Try to have at least 3-5 quotes from each source.

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12. Freedom (3 Genre Prep)  3/10

  • Use the Discovery Log template and fill out the template based on the theme of freedom you picked at the beginning of the semester (before DL #6). 

  • Fill out the template and make sure to identify 3-5 quotes ​(with page #'s) 

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For the Online Exhibit Portion...

The sources you find for the Online Exhibit will help you with your interview and exhibit.  You will need to find 4-5 peer reviewed sources which will be part of the entries for our Discovery Log.  In addition to the section what is included in the "What Should Each Entry Include" section, we will have a discussion on how to use sources effectively.

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This page is will be updated as we progress through the semester. 

Ultimate Cheatsheet

Online Exhibit Sources

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