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Librarian Presentation - Amy An

Research as a recursive process vs. a straight line

 

research steps can be linear (prewrite, draft, edit, final draft) or recursive where the steps go in order but at any point can cycle back to an earlier stage (prewrite, planning, draft, feedback, revision, final draft)

Note. Adapted from, "A word or two on the writing process," by L. L. Irwin, n.d., The Write Place: Guides for Writing and Grammar [blog]. https://www.lirvin.net/WGuides/wprocess.htm CC BY-NC 4.0

Library Tools

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Writing is often recursive, meaning you repeat steps and circle back as often as needed. "Ask a Librarian!" for the tools and information we have to help with each step of the process. 

 

Step Tasks Library Tools (Ask a Librarian!)
Prewriting
  • Choose a topic
  • Define the scope of the topic
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Gather evidence/data
  • Take notes
Planning
  • Plan a research strategy - choose a database(s), gather more evidence/data, identify and find the information you need
  • Develop a thesis or research question
  • Outline/Mind map - with quotes and ideas from your sources
  • Organize your ideas
  • Library Guides (to choose a database for your subject area)
  • Database help: Chat with a librarian (Click "Ask a Librarian!" on the right or come in-person)
Draft
  • Write a first draft
  • Analyze your information
  • Develop your ideas (Writing is the process of discovering what you think)
  • Title page, reference list, in-text citations
Feedback & Reflection
  • Get feedback from peers or instructors
  • Give yourself time to reflect on your ideas and writing
Revision
  • Revise the ideas and organization
  • Edit language & grammar
  • Fix citations
  • APA feedback from a librarian - in-person, chat, or email
  • Grammarly Lynn sign up
Additional Research
  • Learn from the feedback and revision where your gaps are
  • Do more research and go back to planning, revising your draft, and getting feedback
  • Library Guides (to choose more databases for your subject area to fill gaps)
  • Database help: Chat with a librarian (Click "Ask a Librarian!" on the right or come in-person)
Final Draft After repeating the entire process as long as needed, edit and submit the final draft