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ENG 1A (Wong) - Finding Research Voices

This guide supports the "Finding Research Voices" library workshop for English 1A students working on their podcast/vodcast research projects.

Your Librarian

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Kali Rippel
Contact:
925-424-1155

Welcome to the Library Workshop Page for ENG 1A!

This page specifically supports the SP25 in-person "Finding Research Voices" library session for English 1A students working on their podcast/vodcast research projects in Professor Wong's course.

Workshop Goals:

  • Understand podcast/vodcast project requirements in the context of library research
  • Identify different "voices" needed for your research
  • Build effective search strategies for finding different voices
  • Access library resources and get past paywalls
  • Find and evaluate sources

What You'll Need

For this workshop, we'll use:

  • Your topic ideas for the podcast/vodcast project
  • Your W# and MyPortal password for database access and activities
    • Please go to the library homepage and click on "My Account" to verify login procedure
  • A laptop (your own or borrowed) with internet access
    • If you borrow a laptop from the laptop cart, please jot down the laptop number and last four digits of your WID

⏱️ Practical Activities

Activity 1: Guest List

Identify your topic and brainstorm what voices you'll need for each segment of your podcast.

  1. Write down your main topic
  2. For each segment (background, problems, alternatives), list 2-3 types of voices
  3. Where might you find each voice?

Activity 2: Search Formula

Create an effective search formula for your topic.

  1. Identify 2-3 key concepts in your topic
  2. For each concept, list 2-3 alternative terms
  3. Combine terms with AND/OR to create your formula

Activity 3: Database Search

Apply your search formula in a library database.

  1. Go to Academic Search Ultimate
  2. Enter your search formula
  3. Apply the "Peer-reviewed" filter
  4. Find one relevant article

Activity 4: Capture MLA Citation

Get a proper citation for your source.

  1. From your database search results, select an article
  2. Look for the "Cite" or "Citation" button (usually looks like a quotation mark icon)
  3. Select MLA format
  4. Copy the citation and paste it in your notes
  5. Review the citation for accuracy (check capitalization, italics, etc.)

Remember: Database citation tools aren't perfect! Always double-check capitalization, italics, and punctuation against MLA guidelines.

Activity 5: Web Source Evaluation

Evaluate a non-scholarly web source.

  1. Go to Google and search for your topic
  2. Select a non-scholarly result (news site, organization page, etc.)
  3. Stop and Investigate, by applying the CRAAP+:
    • Currency: When was it published/updated?
    • Relevance: How well does it address your topic?
    • Authority: Who created it? What are their credentials?
    • Accuracy: Is it evidence-based? Verified?
    • Purpose: Why was it created? To inform, persuade, or sell?
    • Plus: Check domain type, site design, cross-reference info
  4. Decide if this source would be appropriate for your podcast

Activity 6: Create a Verbal Citation

Practice introducing sources in a natural way for your podcast.

For your scholarly source:
For your web source:

Workshop Reflection

Take a few minutes to reflect on what you've learned in this workshop:

Key Takeaways:

  • Different voices are needed for a well-rounded podcast
  • Effective search strategies vary by source type
  • Evaluation criteria help ensure credible sources
  • Library resources provide free access to scholarly content

Next Steps:

  1. Complete your research plan using the workshop handout
  2. Find your required sources (remember: 1 peer-reviewed)
  3. Create your source synthesis map
  4. Begin drafting your podcast script with citations