Assignment JumpStart Clinic

What we'll cover

• reading the assignment
• building a strategy
• organizing your findings
• formulating your research question
• developing key terms for a database search

#1, Read the assignment

no really, read it.

• what is the assignment asking you to do?
• how does it fit within the course, class discussions, test & quizzes?
• what does your professor want you to learn from doing this assignment?
• how can completing this assignment prepare you for your future career?
• if you can't answer the above questions--ask your professor!!

what those words mean

• Define ,Explain, Summarize = what you know, what others know
• Apply, Relate, Compare/Contrast = how things are connected
• Assess, Synthesize, Argue = defend your ideas w/ research
• NOTE: all of the above will include expert opinion, aka research

#2, Get Organized

first things first

• set up a folder for the class, title it by course name
• begin a word doc. and format it, save it by title of paper
• decide that any article you find will go in to that folder
• begin an outline and bibliography within your word doc.
• format citations correctly from the beginning (APA, AMA, etc.)

#3 build your strategy

show 'em what you got!

• make it worth your time
• break the assignment in to parts
• what do you need to complete it?
• what does the professor want to see?
• what do you want to prove to the professor?

#4, dEVELOP your research question

give it some thought

• decide on specifics
• create the question

#5, key terms, catalogs & databases

Questions lead to answers

• pull key terms from the specifics & research question
• decide if you need to start with books or articles
• search by key terms, aka Subject Headings

common mistakes

• waiting too long to get started
• not having a plan
• starting with what you find in a database
• changing topics
• not asking for help

helpful online resources

• http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understanding-assignments/
• http://www.umuc.edu/writingcenter/writingresources/managing_assignments.cfm
• http://libguides.lhl.uab.edu/
• https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/