Class slides for TESP 4- Fall 2015

1. Constructing Your Topic:
Topic Development & Searching for Sources
Elizabeth McKeigue & Nicole Branch
Santa Clara University LibraryImage courtesy of flickr user Wayne S. Grazio.

2. Objectives
• Develop your topic into a research
question
• Locate and evaluate background
research to explore your topic
• Distinguish between scholarly sources
and popular sources
• Locate and evaluate scholarly sources
• Properly cite your sources
Image courtesy of flickr user Kirsten Pauli

3. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance
Image courtesy of flickr user D. Robert Wolcheck

4. Choosing Your Topic
• An interesting subject that came up in class
• Something you are passionate about
• A topic you would like to learn more about
Image courtesy of flickr user Evelyn Flint

5. Warm up
• In groups, discuss potential topics for your
upcoming assignment
• Select one that your group would like to focus
on
• Record the topic on the worksheet

6. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance

7. Topic
Julian of Norwich

8. Focus your topic
• If you can state your topic in 2-3 words, it is too
broad.
• Narrow your topic by adding another dimension:
Specific aspect of the topic
Comparison of place
Comparison of time

9. Julian of Norwich and…
Mysticism
Gendered conceptions of God
Visions
Atonement

10. Discussion
• In groups, discuss your topic
• Integrate another dimension to develop your
topic.
Specific aspect of the topic
Comparison of place
Comparison of time

11. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance

12. Question
• Add a question such as how, why, or in what
ways to your topic.

13. Examples
What is Christian mysticism and how does Julian of
Norwich relate to this?
How did Julian of Norwich influence gendered
conceptions of God?
What role have visions played in Christian mysticism
over time?
How do Julian of Norwich’s conceptions of atonement
differ from other conceptions of atonement?

14. Common Mistakes
• Avoid questions with one word answers or
that cannot be answered within limits of the
assignment.
• Avoid questions that are too vague or cannot
be answered with research.
• Avoid speculation without evidence.

15. Question
• How did Julian of Norwich influence
gendered conceptions of God?

16. Writing Reflection
• In your groups, transform your topic into a
question.
• Incorporate
How
Why
In what ways

17. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance

18. Significance
• So what?
• I am studying…. So that…..
• What do you want your audience to
understand?
• I am studying…. In order to help my audience
understand…

19. Julian of Norwich &
Conceptions of God
We are studying
Julian of Norwich’s conceptions of God and Jesus
as mother
Because we want to find out
» how these conceptions have influenced gendered
perspectives of God
So that
» our audience can understand how these perspectives
influence the lives of Christians today.

20. Keep it Open
We are studying
Julian of Norwich’s conceptions of God and Jesus
as mother
Because we want to find out
» how these conceptions have influenced gendered
perspectives of God
So that
» our audience can understand the ways in which these
perspectives influence the lives of Christians today.

21. Reflection & Discussion
Apply significance to your question
• We are studying ___________ because we
want to find out ___________ in order to help
our audience understand ______________.

22. Questions?

23. Identifying Keywords
We are studying
Julian of Norwich’s conceptions of God and Jesus
as mother
Because we want to find out
» how these conceptions have influenced gendered
perspectives of God
So that
» our audience can understand how these perspectives
influence the lives of Christians today.

24. Identifying Keywords
We are studying
Julian of Norwich’s conceptions of God and Jesus
as mother
Because we want to find out
» how these conceptions have influenced gendered
perspectives of God
So that
» our audience can understand how these perspectives
influence the lives of Christians today.

25. Finding Sources
• Research Guides
• Background Information
• Article Databases

26. Scholarly vs. Popular Articles
Do you know how to identify a
scholarly article?

27. Scholarly vs. Popular Articles
Answer the
Poll Question
on the In Class Activities tab

28. Characteristics of
Scholarly Articles
• words "Journal," "Transactions," "Proceedings,"
or "Quarterly,” in title
• written for professors, students or researchers.
Clear indication of authorship and
affiliation/bio/scholarly credentials
• articles are reviewed by a board of experts or
"peer reviewed”

29. Characteristics of
Scholarly Articles
• follow a typical format: abstract, literature
review, methodology, results, conclusion, with
footnotes and bibliography
• may include tables, graphs or illustrations to
support research
• very little advertising

30. Article database demo

31. Activity
• Go to one of the databases we showed you or choose
another from the guide and search using your keywords
– If you are using an article database, remember to structure your
search and limit to scholarly journals and articles. Remember to use
truncation.
• Look for an article with strong relevance to your topic and
this about what kind of source it is
• Go to Worksheet 2 and answer questions 1, 2, and 3

32. Thank you to flickr users:
Wayne S. Granzio
Jeff Babbitt
Evelyn Flint
Kirsten Pauli
& D. Robert Wolcheck
for sharing their work through
creative commons license.
Questions?