The ISearch Paper

1
The I-Search Paper

• A different kind of research paper

2
A Typical Research Paper

• Generally, a typical research paper reports data
  and information that helps develop a thesis, or a
  main idea.
  
• An I-Search paper tells the story of how a writer
  goes about finding information.
  

3
Differences

• A traditional research paper does not use I (or
  uses very little of it)
  
• It generally consists of reported facts and data
  used to develop a thesis.

• An I-Search paper uses I because it tells a
  story.
  
• It might have an implied thesis, and it not only
  reports facts, but it describes how they were
  found.

4
Example of an I-Search paper

• I wanted to uncover what made Italian cinema so
  popular in the 1960s and 70s. A fan of Clint
  Eastwood movies, I was surprised to learn that he
  made several of his most popular Westerns in
  Italy. To learn more, I tried a subject search
  through the MCC Virtual Library.

5
Example (Cont.)

• With the help of Bill Gettys book, Essential
  Spaghetti Westerns, I learned that Eastwood made
  three westerns with the famous Italian director,
  Sergio Leone (23). Eastwood decided to dub his
  own lines, a move that Getty claims made him
  famous (25). Having read that, I began to wonder
  about other actors.

6
Example (Cont.)

• I began to wonder if Eastwood was unique in being
  an American actor who dubbed his own lines, so I
  continued my research. Finding little else under
  the subject of spaghetti westerns, I used Dr.
  Fords suggestion and tried another key word
  search, this time simply using the phrase
  Italian popular cinema.

7
The attitude to go in with

• An exploratory attitude.
• Dont just report facts.
• Explain how you uncovered them

8
Also include

• What questions you wanted to answer.
• What you hoped to find out.
• What answers surprised you, or didnt surprise
  you.

9
Be inquisitive

• You must show some curiosity about your subject.
• Showing little interest in your subject will
  diminish your grade.
  
• Show creativity in using different kinds of
  sources.

10
Opening doors with your sources

• 5 sources required
• 2 must be print sources
• 2 must be electronic sources
• The fifth is up to you

11
Stuff you will have to turn in

• An annotated bibliography (at least 7 sources)
• Notes (either on standard paper or note cards)
• Two rough drafts
• Photocopies and/or print-outs of sources

12
Getting started

• Complete Journal 12 by freewriting about one of
  the following
  
• A profession or career you want to enter
• An aspect of your cultural background that
  interests you.
  
• An issue or problem that might affect you at some
  point in the future.
  
• A figure from history or popular culture youre
  interested in.
  
• Or, a topic that you know something about and
  would like to learn more.

13
Secondary or Primary source?

• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• The Declaration of Independence
• The Penguin Guide to Hip Hop on CD
• Ten Years of Terror Reviews of Horror Films
  from the 1970s.
  
• An interview with a professional in a field you
  want to enter