ENGL C1000 (Hettchen)

Break your research topic into keywords and brainstorm related terms.

• Identity: Self-image, community, social role
• Culture: Ethnicity, identity, values, race

Combine keywords in the library's databases for better results.

• AND narrows your search ("community college AND textbooks")
• OR expands your search by including synonyms ("books OR literature")
• "Quotation marks" finds articles with words together ("social identity")

Scholarly articles are written for experts, by experts in a specific field who share their original research. 

Scholarly articles go through the peer review process and often include:

• Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results sections
• Technical language 
• In-Text citations and Bibliography
• Tables, charts, and graphs

MLA citations give credit to the sources you use in your research.

MLA (Modern Language Association) citations consist of two components:

• In-text citations within your paper include the author’s last name and page number
• Works Cited list at the end with full citation details for each source used

Lateral Reading is a key fact-checking skill to evaluate information.

To evaluate for authority, accuracy, and bias, readers investigate the source using outside sources (e.g. another website).

• Search for the name of an unfamiliar source in a new browser tab
• Check trustworthy sites to learn more about the source

Using AI ethically means using AI tools responsibly and with consideration of the issues, especially in your academic work.

AI tools can support your research when used ethically and transparently.

• Purpose: Use AI to enhance learning, not replace critical thinking
• Transparency: Always disclose when and how you used AI assistance
• Best practices: Check your instructor's AI policy before using any tools

If you use AI in your research papers, you do need to cite your source.