Library Resources Activity

Search Engine Usage

Purpose: Today's class is designed around helping you generate topics/unearth resources for the first paper. This is just a brainstorming activity, so your answers don't have to be polished or perfect. We're mostly interested in finding out what interests you.
1.
Create a list of key terms and big ideas from your autoethnography. What words from your autoethnography seem both important and searchable?
2.
In the table below, break your problem down into smaller pieces. In what ways can you separate the inequity that your autoethnography describes into separate issues?
Your Problem:
The Pieces:
3.
Show a neighbor your lists. With your neighbor, think of some common obstacles to addressing the problem. What things get in the way of solving the problem? What issues (for example: legal, social, safety, physical, technological issues) do people who want to address the problem have to deal with?
4.
From your first three answers, pick out some possible search terms that you think would make an interesting paper. For each key word, think of some synonyms or related words.
Key Word 1:
Synonyms/Related:
Key Word 2:
Synonyms/Related:
Key Word 3:
Synonyms/Related:
5.
Use Ferris's SmartSearch tool to find 2 or 3 articles that you might consider using as a source for your position paper. Restrict your search to articles written in the last five years. Mix and match your key words until you find something that you would be comfortable learning more about. Write the names of your articles below.
6.
Define your "Research Community." Based on your searches, come up with a name for the group of people who seem to care about the same topics you do.
7.
Find the "on-going conversation." In your searches, what other terms keep popping up over and over? What other ideas or problems seem important to the people in your research community?