Research Journal

Your journal should be updated on a per-search basis. It should be in a narrative form that records your research process. It should include the steps you took during your research, your thought processes, and any reactions you may have had as you did your research. It should also include all worksheets completed during the process of this course.

Your journal is your final project and is due the last day of class. It will be worth 25 points.

Answer these questions:

  1. What did I do?
  2. How did I do it?
  3. How did it go?
  4. What did I do when things were not going well?
  5. How can I improve it next time?
  6. Did I write down all the important information for my bibliography? (or Can I find the material again?)

Since your journal is made up of your notes, thoughts, and experiences, it does not have to be in any certain form. I am not grading grammar, spelling, or punctuation. IT DOES HAVE TO BE LEGIBLE, in order, and each entry must be dated (e.g., August 30, 2002).

Because you will (hopefully) be adding to your journal as you go along, it would be best to use a three-ring binder to compile your material but the choice of binding is up to you. It may be hand written or computer generated, again the choice is yours. If you have any questions, PLEASE do not hesitate to ask.

As your journal is reviewed, the focus will be on the following questions:

  1. Is there clear research strategy?
  2. Did you clearly state the process used to locate and identify sources?
  3. Did you write down keywords and subject headings you used? And any others that you discovered along the way?
  4. Did you select sources appropriate for the topic?
  5. Did you demonstrate why these were good choices?
  6. Did you evaluate the sources you found? According to what criteria?
  7. Did you indicate where/how you found your sources (BRLRC, other library, etc) (asking a library staff member for assistance is a valid option)?
  8. Did you include all the elements necessary for a proper citation?
  9. Did you include your thought process?
The use of this material was made possible by its original creators Jan Hylen and Susan Beck from New Mexico State University.

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