LEAP 3: Panel Discussion
By the end of this class you will be able to
- Locate the library research guide for this class
- Describe at least two characteristics of a quality source
- Evaluate some example resources in pairs or small groups
- Search for sources using the MRU LibrarySearch
Panel Discussion Assignment
In this assignment, you will work in a group of 3–4 students to explore and discuss a selected topic. Your group will:
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Choose a documentary from the list provided by your instructor
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Present a summary of the key ideas from that documentary
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Engage in a discussion between panelists
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Lead a class discussion by asking thoughtful questions that expand on the documentary’s ideas
This is an informal, interactive presentation—more like a conversation than a scripted speech. Each student is graded individually based on Content, Delivery, and Group Effectiveness.
During the library session, you'll learn how to:
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Search for supporting resources
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Evaluate source credibility and understand why some sources are unreliable
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Avoid plagiarism through paraphrasing and proper source use
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Share research effectively with your group
Academic Sources
When writing academically, your are expected to use the best sources available to you. Academic sources are often harder to understand (from an English language perspective) than non-academic sources. You need at least three academic sources for the presentation assignment. Here are some important sources that meet the requirements of the presentation.
- Encyclopedias
- Books (print and ebooks)
- DVDs and Streaming Video
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Journals
Before you begin to search
Four Steps to Choosing a Topic and Research Question
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Start with a broad topic or question
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Do some background reading to understand the topic better and see how others are talking about it
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Develop more focused questions you might want to explore
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Refine your topic—make sure it’s not too broad (you won’t be able to cover it all) or too narrow (you may struggle to find enough information)
💡 Not sure if your topic is too broad or too narrow? Try doing a bit more searching and reading to find out.
Ways to Narrow a Topic
Consider narrowing your focus by:
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Place (e.g. country, city, community, environment)
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Population (e.g. age group, profession, cultural group)
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Timeframe (e.g. year, decade, historical period)
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Specific issue or challenge (e.g. access to healthcare, discrimination, climate impact, unemployment)
Evaluating Sources Using RADAR
Photo by Alec Favale on Unsplash
What is RADAR?
RADAR is a simple way to check if your information is reliable and useful. It stands for Relevance, Authority, Date, Accuracy, and Reason. Use the table below to guide your thinking when deciding if a source is right for your assignment.
| Relevance | Is the information about your topic? Does it help answer your question? Make sure it is useful for what you need. |
| Authority | Who wrote the information? Are they experts? Check if the author or organization is trustworthy. |
| Date | When was the information written? Is it current or old? Sometimes you need the latest info, and other times older information is okay. |
| Accuracy | Is the information correct? Are there mistakes? Does it have sources or evidence to support it? |
| Reason | Why was this information written? Is it to inform, sell, entertain, or persuade you? Knowing the reason can help you understand if it is biased or fair. |
Accessibility
Accessibility means being able to understand and explain your source in your own words.
💡 Can you summarize the main idea without reading directly from it? Think of it like describing a movie to a friend—what would you say it’s about?
LibrarySearch Techniques
Less is more: Start with one or two words and then add one additional term at a time
- education
- education university
Search phrases: Use "quotation marks" around key ideas made up of multiple words
- "post-secondary education"
- very useful when you have a specific phrase containing common words
Search different spellings: Use or and parentheses () to search similar keywords
- (football or soccer)
- (policy or issues)
Use limits: These refine (narrow) your search using different restrictions
- Date (last 10 years)
- Peer-reviewed (for articles)
You can combine all the above in your search:
- homelessness canada policy
- homelessness canada issues
- homelessness canada (debate or issues)
- "coral reefs" (threats or solutions or issues)
These tips work with LibrarySearch as well as:
- Google Scholar
Google Scholar searches the MRU Library for scholarly literature. Off campus set up: Three bars top left --> Settings -->Library links --> Add Mount Royal University.
- Google News
Google News is a great source of high-quality news articles.
- Canadian Newsstream
A library database with the full text of Canadian newspapers, newswires, newsmagazines, and television and radio transcripts. No ads or paywalls.
Why do we cite and reference sources?
- Citing helps your reader know that you're not making things up
- Citing makes you a more reputable source of information
- "Common knowledge" is not always accepted by the scientific community. Confirm common knowledge and cite your source
- Paraphrasing and summarizing demonstrates that you understand the material
💡 How do I start referencing? Use the "cite" option, found in many search tools, to put your source into APA format.
What if there is no "cite" option? Use the MRU citation guide (and ask for help at the service desk) https://library.mtroyal.ca/citation/
