Exploring a Research Topic
| Interest | Mind Maps | Topic | Viewpoints | Summarize |
| Start with a general interest. This might be a topic with your discipline or class. | Keep track of the different ways your topic is being talked about. Create a mind map of all the subjects, keywords, and phrases used to talk about your topic. | Identify one subject area for your research topic. | Consider different viewpoints. Learn how experts in the field are talking about your topic and their stances. | Finally, write a brief summary of your paper goals and highlight any arguments you will be making. |
Learning the Difference
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| Author: blogger, journalist, staff writer, podcasters | Author: scientist, professors, historians |
| Purpose: entertainment, news | Purpose: communicating findings and educational |
| Language: easy to read, defines key terms | Language: very dense includes a lot of academic jargon |
| Citation: no formal citation and may not attribute sources in text | Citation: Includes bibliographies, citations, and footnotes in a particular style |
| Design: glossy, attractive design, and advertising | Design: mostly text, includes an abstract, no advertising |
| Example: wikipedia, CNN, People Magazine, USA Today, National Geographic Penguin Random House | Example: EBSCO, American Chemical Society Journal, Oxford Journal, Saga Journals, The Chronicle of Higher Education |