Unit 3: Knowing What's Available
Summary:
This unit introduces you to the main kinds of publications/sources (print and online) you will use in academic research.
As you go through the unit, please keep this in mind: Most types of publications do have a place in academic research, depending on your topic and how you use the source! It is tempting to think that popular sources are "bad" and should be avoided. Instead, think to yourself, when would it be appropriate to use this type of source?
Here are some examples of topics that would have you working with popular sources...
How did male versus female journalists portray the female experience in popular magazines of the 1950s? (You will be looking at a lot of popular magazines from the time.)
What tole did Twitter play in the Arab Spring? (You might cite some key Twitter posts or at least look at trends within Tweets.)
In what ways did the media reporting of Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri influence racial tensions? (You will likely look at newspapers, popular magazines, etc., to see how the media reported it.)
Be aware that this unit is likely to take more time than others in this course. Plan accordingly!
Learning objectives:
- Identify the distinct characteristics of each publication format
- Articulate the purpose of various formats
- Describe what a peer-reviewed journal is and explain its importance in the academic research process
- Distinguish between popular, trade, and scholarly publications
To-do:
Read: Textbook: pages 50-54 and Chapter 2 – see below for details
View: "Scholarly versus Popular" video
View: "Using Wikipedia for Academic Research" video
Read: "Reference Sources"
Read: "Is it a Magazine or a Journal?"
Do: Format Timeline Quiz (due Wed 6/8, 2 pts)
Do: Format Identification Activity (due Wed 6/8, 20 pts)
Do: Format Reflection (due Sun 6/12, 10 pts)
Do: Attend your scheduled one-on-one meeting time (due before 5p on Thurs 6/16, 10 pts)
Extra Credit: Unit 3 Survey (due 6/16, 3 pts)