Research Shortcuts

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Introduction vii PART I: MAPPING YOUR ROUTE: SHORTCUTS TO TAKE BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE 1. Decide Who You're Researching For 2 2. Make Sure You Know What Your Topic Is 4 3. Isolate the Purpose of Your Research 6 4. Keep Your Topic's Time Requirements under Control 8 5. Pick Out the Correct Working Title 11 6. Prepare a Preliminary Outline 13 7. Turn Your Research Needs into Precise Questions 19 8. Determine What Kind of Answers You Need 22 9. Decide Whether Your Answers Should Come from Secondary or Primary Sources 27 PART II: PACKING YOUR GEAR: SHORTCUTS THAT MAKE RESEARCH-GATHERING EASY 10. Prepare a Work File 30 11. Keep a Bibliography as You Go 32 12. Key Your Notes for Easy Access 35 13. Take Adequate Notes 38 14. Keep Your Notes Legible and Segmented 41 PART III: TRAVELING THE ROAD: SHORTCUTS FOR SELECTING THE RIGHT RESOURCE CENTER 15. Head for the Right Library 44 16. Learn the Library's Book Storage System 46 17. Find the Storage Places for Periodicals 54 Copyrighted Material 18. Discover Where Pamphlets, Clippings, and Nonprinted Resources Are Stored 56 19. Use the Most Specific Resource Guides First 58 20. Skim the Front Matter Before You Use a Reference Guide 63 21. Make Wise Use of Modern Aids to Research 65 22. Ask the Librarian 69 23. Research to Fit the Rule of Three 70 24. Stick to Dependable Sources 71 25. Skim for Your Answers 73 26. Find Leads to Literature from Groups with Causes 75 PART IV: GETTING INTO UNEXPLORED TERRITORY: SHORTCUTS THAT REACH THE EXPERTS 27. Write Letters That Get Your Questions Answered 78 28. Make Face-to-Face Interviews Pay Off 82 29. Use the Telephone or E-mail 85 30. Become Your Own Expert 87 PART V: ROADMAP FOR A GRADE-A PAPER: USING YOUR RESEARCH MATERIALS 31. Rethink Before You Write 90 32. Zip Through Your First Draft 92 33. Choose the Best Specifics in Your File 95 34. Quote Wisely 97 35. Paraphrase Carefully 100 36. Know the Fine Line between Fair Use and Plagiarism 102 37. Fiddle with Your First Draft 105 38. Print a First-Class Final Draft 107 Copyrighted Material ...