{"id":1566,"date":"2025-04-29T22:08:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T22:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1566"},"modified":"2025-07-13T18:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T18:38:25","slug":"finding-and-evaluating-sources-cheat-sheet","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/finding-and-evaluating-sources-cheat-sheet\/","title":{"raw":"Finding and Evaluating Sources: Cheat Sheet","rendered":"Finding and Evaluating Sources: Cheat Sheet"},"content":{"raw":"<h4 style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Cheat+Sheets\/English+Composition+Cheat+Sheet+Module+10.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download a pdf of this page here.<\/a><\/h4>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Cheat+Sheets\/Spanish+-+English+Composition+Cheat+Sheet+Module+10.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the Spanish version here.<\/a><\/h4>\r\n<h2>Essential Concepts<\/h2>\r\n<h3>Research<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"166\" data-end=\"387\"><strong data-start=\"166\" data-end=\"229\">Research begins with a knowledge gap and a focused question<\/strong>: True research starts when you identify something you don\u2019t yet know and formulate a question that requires exploration and analysis, not just a quick lookup.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"877\"><strong data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"685\">Research writing constructs an answer from evidence<\/strong>: Unlike source-based writing, which starts with a thesis and finds sources to support it, research writing develops a thesis <em data-start=\"811\" data-end=\"817\">from<\/em> the evidence gathered in response to the research question.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"1088\"><strong data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"930\">The research process is iterative, not linear<\/strong>: While there are logical steps\u2014defining a topic, narrowing it, gathering background info, crafting a research question, developing a thesis, finding and citing sources, and writing\u2014the process involves ongoing revision. You'll often revisit and refine earlier steps as you learn more, making early drafting and continual adjustment essential to developing a strong, well-supported paper.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong data-start=\"1329\" data-end=\"1383\">Different research papers serve different purposes<\/strong>: Analytic papers explore and evaluate issues without arguing a position, while argumentative papers take a stance and support it with evidence, both requiring distinct rhetorical strategies.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1092\" data-end=\"1325\"><strong data-start=\"67\" data-end=\"174\">Narrowing a topic means refining a broad subject step by step until it becomes focused and researchable<\/strong>: Start with a general area, explore subtopics, and use background research to identify a specific angle you can analyze in depth\u2014good narrowing questions typically begin with how, why, or what\u2014encouraging analysis and deeper understanding.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Finding Sources<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"511\"><strong data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"319\">Use keywords, not full questions, when searching. <\/strong>Typing your whole research question into a search engine leads to vague results. Instead, extract the most important terms and use them strategically to find targeted, relevant information.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"811\"><strong data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"580\">Pair Google Scholar with library databases for better results. <\/strong>While Google Scholar offers access to many academic sources, library databases provide advanced filters, subject-specific search tools, and guaranteed access to peer-reviewed content\u2014making them more reliable for scholarly work.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"1084\"><strong data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"874\">Distinguish between scholarly and peer-reviewed sources. <\/strong>Not all scholarly articles are peer-reviewed. Peer-reviewed sources go through a rigorous evaluation by experts, ensuring higher academic credibility and making them the preferred choice for formal research.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1368\"><strong data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1156\">Read scholarly articles strategically by knowing their structure. <\/strong>Understanding the typical layout\u2014abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, and conclusion\u2014helps you quickly identify whether the article is useful and where to find the information you need.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1619\"><strong data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1422\">Know when to use primary vs. secondary sources. <\/strong>Primary sources offer direct, original data or firsthand accounts, while secondary sources interpret or analyze those events. Each plays a different role depending on the goals of your research.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1898\"><strong data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1687\">Search library catalogs for books and databases for articles. <\/strong>Library catalogs help locate physical or digital books using call numbers and subjects, while article databases allow you to search within journals and retrieve scholarly articles across specific disciplines.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1902\" data-end=\"2162\"><strong data-start=\"1902\" data-end=\"1967\">Use database search tools and Boolean logic to refine results. <\/strong>Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), quotation marks, and built-in filters like publication date and peer-reviewed-only help you control your search and reduce irrelevant or overly broad results.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Source Analysis<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"202\" data-end=\"486\"><strong data-start=\"202\" data-end=\"255\">Use critical questions to assess a source\u2019s value. <\/strong>Ask who wrote the source, what kind of material it is, when it was created, where it was published, why it exists, and how it's presented\u2014this process helps you evaluate both its trustworthiness and usefulness for your research.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"756\"><strong data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"552\">Suitability and trustworthiness are separate but essential. <\/strong>A source must be relevant to your research question (suitable) <em data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"623\">and<\/em> credible (trustworthy). A source can be appropriate in content but unreliable in accuracy, or reliable but irrelevant to your topic. You should also check whether the author has subject-area expertise, such as academic credentials or professional experience. Avoid relying on opinions from individuals outside their domain of expertise.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"1050\"><strong data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"818\">Apply the CRAAP method to evaluate sources effectively. <\/strong>The CRAAP acronym\u2014Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose\u2014helps assess a source\u2019s credibility and relevance by examining its publication date, author qualifications, factual integrity, and intended audience or bias.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1311\"><strong data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1105\">Use the Four Moves to verify online information. <\/strong>When dealing with digital content, STOP before using it, INVESTIGATE the source\u2019s background, FIND better or corroborating coverage, and TRACE claims back to the original context to avoid misinformation.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"2072\"><strong data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"1869\">Annotated bibliographies help you track and evaluate sources. <\/strong>Creating an annotated bibliography lets you summarize, assess, and plan how to use each source. This helps with staying organized, avoiding weak sources, and aligning sources with your research goals.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"2076\" data-end=\"2370\"><strong data-start=\"2076\" data-end=\"2153\">Literature reviews synthesize existing scholarship to frame your research. <\/strong>A literature review identifies major findings, debates, and gaps in existing research. It helps you build on current knowledge without duplicating it and places your research within a broader academic conversation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Glossary<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"88\" data-end=\"284\"><strong data-start=\"88\" data-end=\"114\">annotated bibliography<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"88\" data-end=\"284\">a list of sources that includes full citation details along with brief notes summarizing, evaluating, and explaining how each source will be used in a research project<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"486\"><strong data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"302\">CRAAP method<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"486\">a source evaluation strategy that stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose\u2014used to assess the credibility and usefulness of information for research purposes<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"697\"><strong data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"500\">database<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"697\">a broad research tool that includes a wide range of sources and subjects, often used for exploring topics across disciplines. examples include Google Scholar, JSTOR, and library article searches<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"905\"><strong data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"713\">Four Moves<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"905\">a fact-checking strategy for evaluating online information: stop, investigate the source, find better coverage, and trace claims to their original context to assess accuracy and credibility<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"1211\"><strong data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"925\">Google Scholar<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"1211\">an academic search engine by Google that indexes scholarly literature from academic publishers, universities, professional organizations, and government websites. it provides broad access to research sources but should be supplemented with library databases for comprehensive results<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1373\"><strong data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1235\">homework questions<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1373\">fact-based questions that can be answered quickly through a single source without interpretation, analysis, or synthesis of information<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1627\"><strong data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1388\">key terms<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1627\">important words or phrases related to a research topic that help locate relevant sources during a search. effective key terms appear frequently in articles and abstracts and may require using synonyms or related terms to improve results<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"1629\" data-end=\"1850\"><strong data-start=\"1629\" data-end=\"1650\">literature review<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1629\" data-end=\"1850\">a summary and evaluation of existing research on a specific topic that identifies major perspectives, key studies, and gaps in knowledge to inform future research or establish context for a project<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"2108\"><strong data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1871\">popular sources<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"2108\">articles written for a general audience, typically found in newspapers and magazines. they are often written by journalists or staff writers, widely accessible, and designed to inform or entertain rather than provide in-depth analysis<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2311\"><strong data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2128\">primary source<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2311\">an original, first-hand account or direct evidence of an event, topic, or research study. examples include diaries, interviews, speeches, photographs, and original research reports<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2482\"><strong data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2325\">research<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2482\">a process of investigating a knowledge gap by gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing information to develop new understanding or solve a complex question<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2658\"><strong data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2506\">research questions<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2658\">questions that cannot be answered by a single fact or source and require analysis, comparison, and critical thinking to develop a meaningful response<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2896\"><strong data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2680\">research writing<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2896\">a form of writing that begins with a genuine question and develops a thesis through gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information; it presents the writer\u2019s answer supported by evidence, reasoning, and sources<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"3145\"><strong data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"2919\">scholarly sources<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"3145\">articles written by experts or researchers, published in academic journals, and intended for students, scholars, and professionals. they present original research, analysis, or theory and include citations to support claims<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3147\" data-end=\"3347\"><strong data-start=\"3147\" data-end=\"3167\">secondary source<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3147\" data-end=\"3347\">a work that analyzes, interprets, or summarizes information from primary or other secondary sources. examples include biographies, scholarly journal articles, and academic books<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3624\"><strong data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3404\">specialized database (research or library database)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3624\">a targeted research tool focused on specific subjects, formats, or date ranges, offering more relevant and refined search results than general databases. often used for in-depth academic research in a particular field<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3789\"><strong data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3641\">suitability<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3789\">how well a source fits the purpose of your research, including its relevance, clarity, depth, and usefulness in addressing your research question<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"4008\"><strong data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"3810\">tertiary source<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"4008\">a resource that compiles and summarizes information from primary and secondary sources, often for quick reference or general overview. examples include encyclopedias, dictionaries, and fact books<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4155\"><strong data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4029\">trustworthiness<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4155\">the reliability and credibility of a source, based on the author\u2019s expertise, accuracy of the information, and lack of bias<\/p>","rendered":"<h4 style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Cheat+Sheets\/English+Composition+Cheat+Sheet+Module+10.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download a pdf of this page here.<\/a><\/h4>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Cheat+Sheets\/Spanish+-+English+Composition+Cheat+Sheet+Module+10.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the Spanish version here.<\/a><\/h4>\n<h2>Essential Concepts<\/h2>\n<h3>Research<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"166\" data-end=\"387\"><strong data-start=\"166\" data-end=\"229\">Research begins with a knowledge gap and a focused question<\/strong>: True research starts when you identify something you don\u2019t yet know and formulate a question that requires exploration and analysis, not just a quick lookup.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"877\"><strong data-start=\"630\" data-end=\"685\">Research writing constructs an answer from evidence<\/strong>: Unlike source-based writing, which starts with a thesis and finds sources to support it, research writing develops a thesis <em data-start=\"811\" data-end=\"817\">from<\/em> the evidence gathered in response to the research question.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"1088\"><strong data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"930\">The research process is iterative, not linear<\/strong>: While there are logical steps\u2014defining a topic, narrowing it, gathering background info, crafting a research question, developing a thesis, finding and citing sources, and writing\u2014the process involves ongoing revision. You&#8217;ll often revisit and refine earlier steps as you learn more, making early drafting and continual adjustment essential to developing a strong, well-supported paper.<\/li>\n<li><strong data-start=\"1329\" data-end=\"1383\">Different research papers serve different purposes<\/strong>: Analytic papers explore and evaluate issues without arguing a position, while argumentative papers take a stance and support it with evidence, both requiring distinct rhetorical strategies.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1092\" data-end=\"1325\"><strong data-start=\"67\" data-end=\"174\">Narrowing a topic means refining a broad subject step by step until it becomes focused and researchable<\/strong>: Start with a general area, explore subtopics, and use background research to identify a specific angle you can analyze in depth\u2014good narrowing questions typically begin with how, why, or what\u2014encouraging analysis and deeper understanding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Finding Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"511\"><strong data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"319\">Use keywords, not full questions, when searching. <\/strong>Typing your whole research question into a search engine leads to vague results. Instead, extract the most important terms and use them strategically to find targeted, relevant information.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"811\"><strong data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"580\">Pair Google Scholar with library databases for better results. <\/strong>While Google Scholar offers access to many academic sources, library databases provide advanced filters, subject-specific search tools, and guaranteed access to peer-reviewed content\u2014making them more reliable for scholarly work.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"1084\"><strong data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"874\">Distinguish between scholarly and peer-reviewed sources. <\/strong>Not all scholarly articles are peer-reviewed. Peer-reviewed sources go through a rigorous evaluation by experts, ensuring higher academic credibility and making them the preferred choice for formal research.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1368\"><strong data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1156\">Read scholarly articles strategically by knowing their structure. <\/strong>Understanding the typical layout\u2014abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, and conclusion\u2014helps you quickly identify whether the article is useful and where to find the information you need.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1619\"><strong data-start=\"1372\" data-end=\"1422\">Know when to use primary vs. secondary sources. <\/strong>Primary sources offer direct, original data or firsthand accounts, while secondary sources interpret or analyze those events. Each plays a different role depending on the goals of your research.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1898\"><strong data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1687\">Search library catalogs for books and databases for articles. <\/strong>Library catalogs help locate physical or digital books using call numbers and subjects, while article databases allow you to search within journals and retrieve scholarly articles across specific disciplines.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1902\" data-end=\"2162\"><strong data-start=\"1902\" data-end=\"1967\">Use database search tools and Boolean logic to refine results. <\/strong>Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), quotation marks, and built-in filters like publication date and peer-reviewed-only help you control your search and reduce irrelevant or overly broad results.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Source Analysis<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"202\" data-end=\"486\"><strong data-start=\"202\" data-end=\"255\">Use critical questions to assess a source\u2019s value. <\/strong>Ask who wrote the source, what kind of material it is, when it was created, where it was published, why it exists, and how it&#8217;s presented\u2014this process helps you evaluate both its trustworthiness and usefulness for your research.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"756\"><strong data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"552\">Suitability and trustworthiness are separate but essential. <\/strong>A source must be relevant to your research question (suitable) <em data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"623\">and<\/em> credible (trustworthy). A source can be appropriate in content but unreliable in accuracy, or reliable but irrelevant to your topic. You should also check whether the author has subject-area expertise, such as academic credentials or professional experience. Avoid relying on opinions from individuals outside their domain of expertise.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"1050\"><strong data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"818\">Apply the CRAAP method to evaluate sources effectively. <\/strong>The CRAAP acronym\u2014Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose\u2014helps assess a source\u2019s credibility and relevance by examining its publication date, author qualifications, factual integrity, and intended audience or bias.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1311\"><strong data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1105\">Use the Four Moves to verify online information. <\/strong>When dealing with digital content, STOP before using it, INVESTIGATE the source\u2019s background, FIND better or corroborating coverage, and TRACE claims back to the original context to avoid misinformation.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"2072\"><strong data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"1869\">Annotated bibliographies help you track and evaluate sources. <\/strong>Creating an annotated bibliography lets you summarize, assess, and plan how to use each source. This helps with staying organized, avoiding weak sources, and aligning sources with your research goals.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2076\" data-end=\"2370\"><strong data-start=\"2076\" data-end=\"2153\">Literature reviews synthesize existing scholarship to frame your research. <\/strong>A literature review identifies major findings, debates, and gaps in existing research. It helps you build on current knowledge without duplicating it and places your research within a broader academic conversation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Glossary<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"88\" data-end=\"284\"><strong data-start=\"88\" data-end=\"114\">annotated bibliography<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"88\" data-end=\"284\">a list of sources that includes full citation details along with brief notes summarizing, evaluating, and explaining how each source will be used in a research project<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"486\"><strong data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"302\">CRAAP method<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"486\">a source evaluation strategy that stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose\u2014used to assess the credibility and usefulness of information for research purposes<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"697\"><strong data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"500\">database<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"488\" data-end=\"697\">a broad research tool that includes a wide range of sources and subjects, often used for exploring topics across disciplines. examples include Google Scholar, JSTOR, and library article searches<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"905\"><strong data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"713\">Four Moves<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"699\" data-end=\"905\">a fact-checking strategy for evaluating online information: stop, investigate the source, find better coverage, and trace claims to their original context to assess accuracy and credibility<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"1211\"><strong data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"925\">Google Scholar<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"1211\">an academic search engine by Google that indexes scholarly literature from academic publishers, universities, professional organizations, and government websites. it provides broad access to research sources but should be supplemented with library databases for comprehensive results<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1373\"><strong data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1235\">homework questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1373\">fact-based questions that can be answered quickly through a single source without interpretation, analysis, or synthesis of information<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1627\"><strong data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1388\">key terms<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1375\" data-end=\"1627\">important words or phrases related to a research topic that help locate relevant sources during a search. effective key terms appear frequently in articles and abstracts and may require using synonyms or related terms to improve results<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1629\" data-end=\"1850\"><strong data-start=\"1629\" data-end=\"1650\">literature review<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1629\" data-end=\"1850\">a summary and evaluation of existing research on a specific topic that identifies major perspectives, key studies, and gaps in knowledge to inform future research or establish context for a project<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"2108\"><strong data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1871\">popular sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"2108\">articles written for a general audience, typically found in newspapers and magazines. they are often written by journalists or staff writers, widely accessible, and designed to inform or entertain rather than provide in-depth analysis<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2311\"><strong data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2128\">primary source<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2110\" data-end=\"2311\">an original, first-hand account or direct evidence of an event, topic, or research study. examples include diaries, interviews, speeches, photographs, and original research reports<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2482\"><strong data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2325\">research<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2482\">a process of investigating a knowledge gap by gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing information to develop new understanding or solve a complex question<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2658\"><strong data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2506\">research questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2658\">questions that cannot be answered by a single fact or source and require analysis, comparison, and critical thinking to develop a meaningful response<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2896\"><strong data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2680\">research writing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2660\" data-end=\"2896\">a form of writing that begins with a genuine question and develops a thesis through gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information; it presents the writer\u2019s answer supported by evidence, reasoning, and sources<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"3145\"><strong data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"2919\">scholarly sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"3145\">articles written by experts or researchers, published in academic journals, and intended for students, scholars, and professionals. they present original research, analysis, or theory and include citations to support claims<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3147\" data-end=\"3347\"><strong data-start=\"3147\" data-end=\"3167\">secondary source<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3147\" data-end=\"3347\">a work that analyzes, interprets, or summarizes information from primary or other secondary sources. examples include biographies, scholarly journal articles, and academic books<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3624\"><strong data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3404\">specialized database (research or library database)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3624\">a targeted research tool focused on specific subjects, formats, or date ranges, offering more relevant and refined search results than general databases. often used for in-depth academic research in a particular field<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3789\"><strong data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3641\">suitability<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3789\">how well a source fits the purpose of your research, including its relevance, clarity, depth, and usefulness in addressing your research question<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"4008\"><strong data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"3810\">tertiary source<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"4008\">a resource that compiles and summarizes information from primary and secondary sources, often for quick reference or general overview. examples include encyclopedias, dictionaries, and fact books<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4155\"><strong data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4029\">trustworthiness<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\" data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4155\">the reliability and credibility of a source, based on the author\u2019s expertise, accuracy of the information, and lack of bias<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":286,"module-header":"cheat_sheet","content_attributions":[],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1566"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3228,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1566\/revisions\/3228"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/286"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1566\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1566"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1566"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}