Begin your project by making sure you completely understand the parameters of the assignment.
Prompt: Based on your reading and research, write an essay that argues whether or not social media has had a positive or negative effect on society.
You may choose to take a specific side, pro or con, and argue for that position, or you may take a more balanced approach and discuss both sides. Whichever you choose, however, you will want to narrow your scope to only 2-3 main points.
You may not know a lot about your topic, so it is okay to start by asking a few basic questions to launch the research process.
Look up your topic in reference books, CQ Researcher, and Issues & Controversies. Getting some basic background information on your topic may help you answer some of those initial questions, as well as give you ideas on how to expand your list of questions.
Why search here? Use this database when you want to find comprehensive, unbiased reporting and analysis to get background information on issues in the news.
What's included: Overview reports of topics related to health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy in America.
This is a great database to use when you want to explore different viewpoints on controversial or hot-button issues. It includes reports on more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Use the search or browse topics by subject or A to Z.
Don't be afraid to pose questions to which you have no idea of the answer. That is what the research process is all about...finding answers.
As you begin to answer your questions expect your list to change. You may add new questions, expand existing questions, and discard questions. This refining process is a natural part of the research process.
Using the right words when you search can help you find more and better resources.
Why search here? Search 22 databases at the same time that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. This is a good resource to use when you want to delve deeper into your subject.
What's included: EBSCO databases include articles previously published in academic journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
In-text citations are brief references within the body of your paper that tell your readers that a) you've used an outside source, and b) point them toward that source in your Works Cited list. Where relevant, the in-text citation also points your reader to the location in the source being cited (e.g. page number).
The in-text citation can appear within the body of your paper, within a parentheses, or a combination of the two.
You need to cite all direct quotations, paraphrased information, and summarized ideas.
If page numbers are available, they MUST be listed. This often means examining the pdf version of database articles to locate page numbers.
Magnesium can be effective in treating PMS (Haggerty 42).
A preliminary study presented recently at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting found that getting enough sleep was associated with greater protection of death from all causes.If magnesium does work to help someone get a little shuteye, that may be because it is acting on certain receptors on the surface of brain cells to quiet down brain cell activity.The nutrient acts on the benzodiazepine receptor, which is the same receptor used by Valium-type drugs and the sleep medication Ambien. (Gurubhagavatula)
Haggerty notes magnesium is effective at relieving some symptoms of PMS (42).
Each citation in your list of works cited is composed of elements common to most works -- author, title, publication date, etc. These are called the MLA core elements. The core elements are assembled in a specific order as shown to the left.
Use the links below to see examples of source citations and practice using one of the templates.
If you don't find what you need below, check out the MLA's, Ask the MLA.
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