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LEAP 3: Panel Discussion

By the end of this class you will be able to

  1. Locate the library research guide for this class

  2. Describe at least two characteristics of a quality source

  3. Evaluate some example resources in pairs or small groups

  4. Search for sources using the MRU LibrarySearch

Panel Discussion Assignment

In this assignment, you will work in a groups to explore and discuss a selected topic. Your group will:

  • Choose a topic that presents a clear problem (or problems) and offers possible solutions
  • Assign one group member to be the moderator who will guide the discussion.
  • The other group members will be the panellists who will take on a specific role and offer a unique perspective on the issue.
    • Example: a teacher, parent, international student, business owner etc.
  • Your group will lead a class discussion by asking questions of the class in order to expand on ideas.

During the library session, you'll learn how to:

  • Search for supporting resources

  • Evaluate source credibility and understand why some sources are unreliable

  • Avoid plagiarism through paraphrasing and proper source use

  • 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.

  1. Encyclopedias
  2. Books (print and ebooks)
  3. DVDs and Streaming Video
  4. Newspapers
  5. Magazines
  6. Journals

Before you begin to search

Four Steps to Choosing a Topic and Research Question

  1. Start with a broad topic or question

  2. Do some background reading to understand the topic better and see how others are talking about it

  3. Develop more focused questions you might want to explore

  4. 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:

  • Place (e.g. country, city, community, environment)

  • Population (e.g. age group, profession, cultural group)

  • Timeframe (e.g. year, decade, historical period)

  • Specific issue or challenge (e.g. access to healthcare, discrimination, climate impact, unemployment)

Evaluating Sources Using RADAR

Image of a radar dish at night against a sky with stars

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 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:

 

Why do we cite and reference sources?

  1. Citing helps your reader know that you're not making things up

  2. Citing makes you a more reputable source of information

  3. "Common knowledge" is not always accepted by the scientific community. Confirm common knowledge and cite your source

  4. 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/