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Week one ends with a question that will guide you as you resume your research this week. Remember that whatever focusing question you arrived at last week is simply an opening question; you may change it later, particularly as you learn more about your topic and monitor your own curiosity. This chapter builds on the work you did last week, focusing on two things: developing a sensible research strategy and developing a “deep knowledge” about your topic. When I first started writing research papers, I never really had a “strategy.” I picked a topic and then went to the card catalog, hoping to find several good books. I resorted to checking for periodicals only if the book hunt went awry. The process was inefficient and pretty ineffective. Technology has made it easier to approach research strategically and is even more essential than ever since it’s now possible to access mind-boggling riches of information in the library and on the Internet. How do you find what you want? All it takes is the right words, and in this chapter we’ll learn how to perform magic with careful use of search terms. Last week, you developed a “working knowledge” of your topic, enough understanding to help you frame a focusing question. Your working knowledge will also help prepare you for the research you do this week as you go more deeply into your topic. “Deep knowledge” might overstate things a bit, but you will find by the end of this chapter that you’re an authority of sorts on your topic, knowing enough to hold forth for fifteen minutes in front of the class. The search for a better understanding of your topic will take you back to the library and the Internet, using more advanced search tools. Objectives for this chapter include the following:
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