Research Scaffolding Part 1: Finding Sources
There is a limitless amount of research available to you, and if you want to find a key needle in this giant information haystack, you need a research plan. This activity should help you develop some sort of research plan, and begin the research process for your final essay. Please go through each step IN ORDER and FILL IN YOUR RESPONSES BELOW.
The first step you need to take is focusing on the topic you want to explore. Review the prompts that respond to the essay topic you have selected. What problem will you explore in regards to the human relationship with the natural world?
GOAL: to begin research with a focused topic
Water supply from Great Lakes and nonpoint pollutions that contaminates the water.
Background/Context:
Second, you need to create a context for your issue (background and current info). Start with a general website search, reviewing information about your topic. Spend time browsing the web, reading about your issue, and gaining some background knowledge.
GOAL: to learn more about the background of your issue.
*Remember: what you find on the World Wide Web is not what you will cite in your actually essay, but this info will help you build a context for your issue BEFORE you read scholarly articles.
Begin listing key terms that you want to look up in the library's databases that will lead you to scholarly sources. Key terms are words, phrases, facts, titles, dates, authors, events, etc. that apply to your issue (i.e. hydrofracking, Arizona AND Water Crisis, FAO). You should always keep track of your search terms!
GOAL: create a list of important search terms that you will later plug into scholarly databases.
Great Lakes - acid rain, Great Lakes - nonpoint pollution, Great Lakes - water supply, Illinois - water supply, Great Lakes - air pollution, Great lake - farmers' waste.
List of Search Terms/Combinations:
Go to the online databases on Wright's Library homepage. Begin typing in combinations of the search terms to the database. Record the search terms you tested out for each database.
GOAL: to target scholarly sources for academic research.
Database Name: Search Term Combos:
Use search strategies to narrow down the articles. Skim through the abstracts and select 2 articles that may be valuable to the exploration of your topic.
Email the article to yourself, or save it to a flashdrive.
GOAL: compile and save research to access at later dates
Write down the Works Cited information your will need to document this source (use OWL at Purdue [link on BB page]). Compile the information into a Works Cited page entry according to MLA formats.
GOAL: Understand proper WC formats. Do this work now, so you do not have to later!
Works Cited Entry 1:
Centner, Terence J. "Nutrient Pollution From Land Applications Of Manure: Discerning A Remedy For Pollution." Stanford Law & Policy Review 21.2 (2010): 213-243. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
Works Cited Entry 2:
Peter Richards, R., et al. "'Nutrient Inputs To The Laurentian Great Lakes By Source And Watershed Estimated Using SPARROW Watershed Models' By Dale M. Robertson And David A. Saad2 'Nutrient Inputs To The Laurentian Great Lakes By Source And Watershed Estimated Using.." Journal Of The American Water Resources Association 49.3 (2013): 715-724. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
* Also, you can look for a book in the Wright College catalog as a basis for your research.
Research Scaffolding part 2: Evaluating Sources
Now that you have completed Research Scaffolding Part 1 and have selected 2 sources that pertain to your issue, practice analyzing the sources. Essentially, you should do this process with all research evidence you consider using to support writing in academia. Please be sure to answer the following questions for BOTH sources.
Source 1
Summary: What is the main argument of source/author 1?
The author writes how government created act, to protect water supplies from pollutions that were coming from farms. When the farmers stopped contaminating water, it came out that water is still polluted. After farther research, the reason for contaminated water were nonpoint pollutions.
Evidence: What evidence does the author use to support her claims?
Nonpoint source pollution generally results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, or percolation rather than from a discharge at a specific, single location.
Who published the source or is responsible for the content? What year was the source published?
Centner, Terence, 2010.
Analysis: Do you agree with the author/source? Why or why not? (Develop your Ideas!)
I agree with the source. I was very interesting to find out that the air can actually pollute the water. The air pollutions have huge impact on water and chemical compounds and metals in water are serious problems that can affect humans' health.
What claims/ideas would this source support in Essay 3?
It would support idea that nonpoint source pollution have as bad effect on water as point source pollutions. It aslo supports idea on water supply, the more water is contaminated the less water will be left for us.
Source 2
Summary: What is the main argument of source/author 2?
The author writes that agriculture, has big effect on water contamination. The chemicals that are used within farmer's production are released to the air and some waste go straight to water sources. The authos tlaks also that it is hard to remove chemicals, and not all of them can be completely removed
Evidence: What evidence does the author use to support her claims?
Fertilizer and manure from con-fined or unconfined animals is delivered to the watershed outlet. The phosphorus concentration in Lake Erie comes from fertilizes. The nitrogen concentration in water are very high due to nonpoint source pollution.
WPeter Richards, Alameddine, Ibrahim2David Allan, Baker, David BBosch, Nathan S.Confesor, RemegioDePinto, Joseph V.Dolan, David M. Reutter, Jeffrey M. Scavia, Donald. In 2013
Analysis: Do you agree with the author/source? Why or why not? (Develop your Ideas!)
I agree with the source, the agriculture is one of the main pollutants of the water. It affects both ways through nonpoint and point source pollutions. The chemical they use are very hazardous for the environment and humans.
What claims/ideas would this source support in Essay 3?
This source would support the idea that Graet Lakes are affected by nonpoint source pollution. It also supports the idea that agriculture has impact on water.