Part of becoming a skilled researcher is knowing when to ask for help.  The academic research process can be and often is complex. These workshops are intended to introduce you to resources that will allow you to find relevant sources to inform your final project and to strengthen your research skills.  However, we don't intend for these workshops to be the end of teaching you research techniques. Whenever you hit a roadblock in your research, ask the librarian for guidance. 

In the box directly below, we have provided a link to the AskUs page of the Research Center, so that you can seek help at any stage of your research.  On the far right column, we have provided the contact information for Peggy Keeran, so that you can email her directly with any questions you have or to make a consultation appointment. 

We have developed three one-hour library research workshops for this course, in order to teach you strategies for finding required resources that will provide a foundation for your research project and that will contribute to your argument.

Research is an iterative and often non-linear process. Critical thinking is crucial throughout the research process, so that you are continually analyzing and evaluating your findings to see how they contribute or fail to contribute to your argument and to your understanding to the larger conversation surrounding your topic. 

Workshop 1: Finding and Citing Images (9/28/18)

Although finding images may appear to be very easy using a web-based browser, finding the right image that supports and contributes to your argument can be challenging.   We will introduce a variety of image databases, including Google Images, where images range from historic pieces of art and architecture to cheesy images of religious figures.  Although this workshop is early in the quarter, you will need the skills acquired here for future assignments.  As you critically evaluate an image, ask yourself:

• Who created the image?
• When was it created?
• Who was the original audience for the image?
• What visual elements in the image inform your understanding of your topic?
• How does the image you have selected contributes to your audience's understanding of your argument?

Workshop 2:  Background Information (10/9/18)

Although myth and legend may surround the religious topic you select, there are factual details that will serve as a foundation for your project, including, for example, the historical era, geographic area, population, economy, culture, and religious practices.  Using scholarly reference tools such as academic encyclopedias, handbooks, and companions, you will find basic factual information on your topic. To ensure your facts are correct, you will use three academic reference tools on the Workshop 2 tab to complete the assignment for this workshop.

Workshop 3:  Expanding Theoretical Knowledge (10/19/18)

The goal of this workshop is to find three academic sources that respond authoritatively to a theoretical reading from class, whether these writings are scholarly book reviews, annual reviews, or part of literature reviews in secondary sources, that expand your grasp of the reading.  Some questions to consider as you read the commentary:

• Who are the individuals evaluating or citing the reading, and what are their credentials?
• How do these additional readings help you construct and contextualize the authority of your class reading?

You will also identify one source that you reject, and explain why it didn't help you enlarge your understanding of the theory.