Advanced Tip: Talk to People!

You are viewing the first edition of this textbook. A second edition is available – please visit the latest edition for updated information.

Throughout these chapters, we have been emphasizing the idea of scholarship as conversation. This notion extends beyond the written paper to the entire research process… and nowhere is it more important than during your literature review! Just to reiterate this point, here are a few ideas to consider:

• Talk To Your Instructor: Don’t be afraid to talk to your instructor at different stages of your research. This is a good way top stay on track, make sure the scope and purpose of your project are on target, and to make sure you’re finding the right types of sources. Your instructor may also know about important books or articles you haven’t discovered yet as well as key researchers or theorists who work in your area:
• Consult a Librarian: UCF Libraries offers a research consultation service. It is recommended to schedule an appointment as early in the process as possible. Consultations generally focus on the same search strategies discussed throughout this course, but they will be tailored to your individual project.
• Interview an Expert: Whether at UCF or someone you’ve discovered during your literature review, consider setting up an informational interview. To get started, introduce yourself, briefly describe your research project, explain why you’re contacting them, and request an interview or assistance with a specific research problem. You might not get a response from everyone, but you’ll be surprised how willing established researches are to talk to young scholars who show initiative.