From Question to Sources

In practice

This worked example is constructed for this course. A student is interested in why fall leaves change color and wants to write a research paper. First, narrow the topic into a question: how do a region's rainfall and temperatures affect the colors of its fall foliage? The question asks how, names specific factors, and can be answered from sources. Second, generate keywords. Highlight the key words in the question, rainfall, temperature and foliage color, add words the question assumes but does not state, such as trees and autumn, and list synonyms, such as leaves for foliage and precipitation for rainfall. Third, search in stages. A general reference work on trees gives background on how leaves produce color. A general-interest database turns up a magazine article on recent warm autumns, useful for context. Once the question is focused, a subject database in the life sciences turns up scholarly studies measuring leaf color against weather records. Fourth, consider field research: photographing the same trees weekly could add original observation, if the assignment allows it. Fifth, record bibliographic notes for every useful source as it is found, and log how each one connects to the question. The student ends with a mix of background, popular and scholarly sources, each tied to the question.