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The Bedford Researcher
Sixth Edition| ©2018New Edition Available Mike Palmquist
It has never been more important to learn how to locate relevant, credible sources, to evaluate competing ideas and arguments, and to share our thoughts with others in a compelling, well-supported manner. This edition of The Bedford Researcher, like those that have come before it, was writ...
It has never been more important to learn how to locate relevant, credible sources, to evaluate competing ideas and arguments, and to share our thoughts with others in a compelling, well-supported manner. This edition of The Bedford Researcher, like those that have come before it, was written to help students strengthen their ability to understand, assess, and contribute to ongoing conversations about important issues.
Tech-savvy and student-friendly, The Bedford Researcher addresses the wide variety of source-based writing students do and the kinds of sources they actually use, from multimodal projects and oral presentations to Web sites and digital databases. The Bedford Researcher strips away the complexities of research writing across the disciplines and offers the practical help students need to write with confidence while integrating electronic sources and tools into each stage of the process. It addresses the vast amount of information available to writers, the expanding variety of media and genres used by writers to share their work, the critical importance and increasingly challenge of evaluating sources, and the demands of managing information effectively and efficiently. Now available with LaunchPad Solo for Research and Reference, which includes a mix of tutorials, practice exercises, and student writing to help you get the most out of The Bedford Researcher.
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Your credible source on the Research Process
It has never been more important to learn how to locate relevant, credible sources, to evaluate competing ideas and arguments, and to share our thoughts with others in a compelling, well-supported manner. This edition of The Bedford Researcher, like those that have come before it, was written to help students strengthen their ability to understand, assess, and contribute to ongoing conversations about important issues.
Tech-savvy and student-friendly, The Bedford Researcher addresses the wide variety of source-based writing students do and the kinds of sources they actually use, from multimodal projects and oral presentations to Web sites and digital databases. The Bedford Researcher strips away the complexities of research writing across the disciplines and offers the practical help students need to write with confidence while integrating electronic sources and tools into each stage of the process. It addresses the vast amount of information available to writers, the expanding variety of media and genres used by writers to share their work, the critical importance and increasingly challenge of evaluating sources, and the demands of managing information effectively and efficiently. Now available with LaunchPad Solo for Research and Reference, which includes a mix of tutorials, practice exercises, and student writing to help you get the most out of The Bedford Researcher.
Features
Complete Coverage of the Research Writing Process
- Part 1, Joining the Conversation, introduces the concept of research writing as a social act.
- Part 2, Working with Sources, establishes the importance of reading critically, evaluating sources, managing information, taking notes, and avoiding plagiarism.
- Part 3, Collecting Information, helps students search for information using digital resources, print resources, and field research methods.
- Part 4, Creating Your Document, guides students as they develop their thesis, organize their information and ideas, frame their argument, develop an outline, draft their document, integrate source material, revise and edit their drafts, and design their document.
- Part 5, Documenting Sources, provides comprehensive and up-to-date chapters on MLA, APA, Chicago, and CSE styles.
Engaging and Useful Apparatus Each chapter is structured around a set of Key Questions that enables students to find information quickly and ends with Quick Reference boxes to stress the chapter’s main points. Throughout the book, My Research Project activities, in-depth tutorials, and numerous illustrations and tables teach students how to keep their projects on track.
The design employs clear and accessible illustrations, annotations, checklists, activities, and documentation guidelines — the parts of the text students will return to as they write.
A Conversational, Student Friendly Tone The Bedford Researcher is written in an accessible, easy-to-follow style that treats students with respect. Clear, relevant examples address students’ questions about research writing by concretely illustrating writing, research, and critical reading strategies.
Detailed Case Studies of Real Student Researchers The work of seven featured writers, real students who undertook a variety of research writing projects in a variety of disciplinary contexts, is featured in the text. Their work — in the form of traditional research essays, websites, and multimodal essays — provides accessible models for your students as they conduct their own research and draft their own documents.
Help with Analyzing and Developing Arguments Extensive coverage of argument, both as a writing strategy and as a framework for reading sources critically and actively, is included in Part 4, Creating Your Document. Here students will learn how to establish a position on an issue, how to develop a line of argument, and how to support an argument with reasons and evidence. They will also learn to identify logical fallacies and avoid them in their own writing.
Extensive and Up-to-Date Coverage of Digital Sources and Tools The text offers relevant, hands-on advice for searching for and evaluating audio, video, and other digital sources; searching for e-books; saving and organizing sources with personal and social bookmarking sites and Web capture tools; integrating images, audio, and video into multimodal documents and multimedia presentations; and revising and editing with digital tools.
New to This Edition
A Stronger Focus on Academic Writing A new chapter 7—"Working with Information, Ideas, and Arguments"—opens with an extended discussion of academic writing. The chapter provides a clear discussion of academic genres and academic argument. It extends this discussion to include detailed treatments of the key genres that play an intermediate role in many research writing projects: working and annotated bibliographies, various types of summaries and responses, documents that serve a synthesizing function across groups of sources (including both the review of literature and informal forms of writing), and research proposals.
Unified Coverage of Search Processes Chapter 10, "Searching for Information," provides a comprehensive approach to searching with digital and print sources, diminishing the distinction among databases, web search tools, and print-based resources. Each set of resources is considered in terms of its distinctive contributions to a writer’s search for relevant and credible sources.
Additional Discussion of Collaboration in Field Research A new section provides guidance on collaboration on research gathered through interviews, observation, and correspondence.
Updated Coverage of Documentation Systems Chapter 23, "Using MLA Style," has been updated to reflect the significant changes introduced to the MLA documentation system. These changes have resulted in major changes not only in the MLA chapter but also in the chapters on APA, Chicago, and CSE styles. Documentation models include more of a focus on the genre itself and less on the medium in which it is distributed. Each genre section (e.g., books, articles, and reference works) includes citation models for sources available in print, digital, and other forms, making it easier for students to locate relevant models and simplifying the presentation of the citation models.
Now available with LaunchPad Solo for Research and Reference, Palmquist, a digital repository of tutorials, practice, sample writing, and additional writing advice from author Mike Palmquist. This material can be assigned for additional outside practice or used in-class to further enhance your teaching with The Bedford Researcher.
"The Bedford Researcher is, hands-down, the best and most comprehensive resource for my composition students. It offers a unique and useful approach to writing and research that informs and supports students throughout their academic experience."
—Andrea Bewick, Napa Valley College
"More than just a handbook, The Bedford Researcher teaches students to dig deep into a topic or issue, develop a strong argumentative position, and use researched-supported logic to write a persuasive essay."
—Ruthe Thompson, Southwest Minnesota State University
"I've described it as a life saver before. Because it takes the student through the process step-by-step, it's a built-in scaffold."
—Elizabeth Kent, Auburn University at Montgomery
“Clear, practical, well-organized, and useful for anyone from a first-year student to an advanced researcher. I've even used some of Palmquists's activities in my own research.”
—James Crane, The College of St. Scholastica

The Bedford Researcher
Sixth Edition| ©2018
Mike Palmquist
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Writer's Help
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The Bedford Researcher
Sixth Edition| 2018
Mike Palmquist
Table of Contents
Part 1: Joining the Conversation
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1a How can I research and write with confidence?
Think of writing as a form of conversation
Understand the rhetorical nature of writing situations
Understand and manage your research writing processes
1b How can I approach an assignment?
Consider your writing situation
Generate ideas about potential topics
Choose an appropriate topic
Chapter 2 Exploring and focusing
2a How can I explore my topic?
Create a plan to explore your topic
Discuss your topic with others
Conduct preliminary observations
Identify useful types of sources
Find sources
2b How can I focus on an issue?
Identify conversations about issues in your topic
Assess your interest in the issues
Choose an issue
Chapter 3 Developing Your Research Question and Proposal
3a How can I develop my research question?
Reflect on your issue and disciplinary context
Focus on your role
Focus on an aspect of your issue
Choose and focus your research question
Refine your research question
Part 2: Working with Sources
Chapter 4 Reading Critically and Actively
4a How can I read sources critically?
Read with an attitude
Distinguish between critical reading and evaluating
Approach a source with your writing situation in mind
Read promising sources more than once
Develop a position on your research question
4b What strategies can I use to read actively?
Skim for organization and content
Mark and annotate sources
Take notes
4c What should I pay attention to as I read?
Identify the genre
Note illustrations
Identify primary and secondary sources
Identify main points
Identify reasons and evidence
Identify interpretive frameworks
Identify new and hard-to-understand information
Identify similarities and differences
Chapter 5 Evaluating Sources
5a What factors should I use to evaluate a source?
Evaluate relevance
Evaluate evidence
Evaluate the author
Evaluate the publisher
Evaluate timeliness
Evaluate comprehensiveness
Evaluate genre
5b Should I evaluate all types of sources in the same way?
Evaluate the relevance and credibility of digital sources
Evaluate the relevance and accuracy of field sources
Chapter 6 Taking notes
6a Why should I take notes?
6b How can I take notes?
Choose a method and use it consistently
Quote directly
Paraphrase
Summarize
6c How can I use my notes to improve my understanding of an issue?
Record your reactions and impressions
Compare sources
Classify sources
Plan your document
Chapter 7 Working with Information, Arguments, and Genres
7a What should I know about academic writing?
Understand academic genres
Understand how to develop an academic argument
Understand the role of "intermediate" genres
7b How can I create and use a bibliography?
Create a working bibliography
Create an annotated bibliography
7c How can I summarize sources?
Write a main-point summary
Wite a key-points summary
Write an outline summary
7d How can I respond to sources?
Write an agree/disagree response
Write a reflective response
Write an analytic response
Write an evaluative response
7e How can I respond to sources?
Explore ideas through informal writing
Create a review of literature
7f How can I create a research proposal?
Identify your topic, issue, and research question
Provide a review of literature
Explain how you’ll collect information
Develop a project timeline
Compile a working or an annotated bibliography
Clarify and elaborate on your core proposal
Chapter 8 Managing Information
8a How can I save and organize print information?
8b How can I save and organize digital information?
Chapter 9 Avoiding Plagiarism
9a What is plagiarism?
Unintentional plagiarism
Intentional plagiarism
Plagiarism in group projects
9b What are research ethics?
9c What is common knowledge?
9d What is fair use and when should I ask permission to use a source?
9e How can I avoid plagiarism?
Conduct a knowledge inventory
Take notes carefully
As you draft, distinguish between your ideas and ideas in your sources
Identify sources in your document
Understand why writers plagiarize
9f What should I do if I’m accused of plagiarism?
Part 3 Collecting Information
Chapter 10 Searching for Information
10a How can I prepare to search digital resources?
Review your research plan and proposal
Identify keywords and phrases
Plan basic searches
Plan advanced searches
10b How can I locate sources using digital tools?
Search library catalogs
Search databases
Serach the Web
Search media sites
10c How can I locate sources using print resources?
Discuss your search plan with a librarian
Visit the library stacks
Browse periodicals
Check reference works
Chapter 11 Collecting Information with Field Research
11a When should I use field research methods?
11b How can I conduct an interview?
Plan your interview
Decide what you should ask
Conduct your interview
Analyze your results
11c How can I conduct an observation?
Plan your observation
Conduct your observation
Analyze your results
11d How can I conduct a survey?
Plan your survey
Conduct your survey
Analyze your results
11e How can I engage in other forms of field research?
Engage in correspondence
Attend public events
Collaborate with others
Part 4 Creating Your Document
Chapter 12 Developing Your Thesis Statement
12a How can I prepare to draft my thesis statement?
Review your position statement
Review your notes
Consider your purpose and role
Reflect on your readers
12b How can I develop an effective thesis statement?
Identify important information, ideas, and arguments associated with your position
Chapter 13 Developing and organizing Your Argument
13a How can I develop my argument?
Choose reasons to support your main point
Select evidence to support your reasons
Decide how to appeal to your readers
Decide how to address opposing arguments
Check for logical fallacies
13b How can I organize my argument?
Choose an organizing pattern
Review and arrange your evidence
Create an outline
Chapter 14 Drafting
14a How can I help my readers follow my argument?
Work from an outline
Create paragraphs that focus on a central idea
Create paragraphs that use appropriate organizing patterns
Create transition within and between paragraphs
Provide cues to keep your readers on track
Integrate information from sources effectively
14b How can I write with style and engage my readers?
Use details to capture your readers’ attention
Write clearly and concisely
Write actively (most of the time)
Adopt a consistent point of view
Vary your sentence structure
Avoid sexist language
Consult a good handbook
14c How can I use my introduction to frame my issue?
Call attention to an aspect of the issue
Choose an appropriate strategy for your introduction
14d How can I use my conclusion to frame my issue?
Reinforce your argument
Select an appropriate strategy for your conclusion
Chapter 15 Using Sources effectively
15a How can I use sources to accomplish my purposes as a writer?
Introduce an idea or argument
Contrast ideas or arguments
Provide evidence for your argument
Align your argument with an authority
Define a concept, illustrate a process, or clarify a statement
Set a mood
Provide an example
Amplify or qualify a point
15b How can I integrate sources into my draft?
Identify your sources
Quote strategically
Paraphrase information, ideas, and arguments
Summarize
Present numerical information
Use images, audio, video, and animations
15c How should I document my sources?
15d How can I ensure I’ve avoided unintentional plagiarism?
Quote, paraphrase, and summarize accurately and appropriately
Distinguish between your ideas and ideas in your sources
Check for unattributed sources in your document
Chapter 16 Designing Documents
16a What role does design play in my document?
Understand design principles
Design for a purpose
Design for your readers
Design to address genre conventions
16b What design elements can I use?
Use fonts, line spacing, and alignment
Use page layout elements
Use color, shading, borders, and rules
Use illustrations
16c How can I design my document?
Design an academic essay
Design a multimodal essay
Design an article
Design a website
Chapter 17 Revising and editing
17a What should I focus on as I revise my document?
Consider your writing situation
Consider your argument and ideas
Consider your use and integration of sources
Consider the structure and organization of your document
Consider genre and design
17b What strategies should I use to revise?
Save multiple drafts
Highlight your main point, reasons, and evidence
Challenge your assumptions
Scan, outline, and map your document
Ask for feedback
17c What should I focus on as I edit my document?
Focus on accuracy
Focus on economy
Focus on consistency
Focus on style
Focus on spelling, grammar, and punctuation
17d What strategies should I use to edit?
Read carefully
Mark and search your document
Use spelling, grammar, and style tools with caution
Ask for feedback
Chapter 18 Presenting Your Work
18a How can I make an oral presentation?
Consider your purpose and audience
Narrow your scope
Create a barebones outline
Think about language
Prepare speaker’s notes
Engage with your audience
View speaker’s notes
18b How can I give a multimedia presentation?
Consider your purpose
Consider audience expectations about design
View a multimedia presentation
18c How can I create a poster presentation?
Consider your purpose and audience
Consider audience expectations about design
View a poster
18d How can I develop a portfolio?
Consider your writing situation
Select your materials
Choose a publishing tool
Design your portfolio
Documenting Sources
Chapter 19 Understanding Documentation Systems
19a What is a documentation system and which one should I use?
19b How should I document my sources?
Chapter 20 Using MLA Style
20a How do I cite sources within the text of my document?
20b How do I prepare the list of works cited?
Chapter 21 Using APA Style
21a How do I cite sources within the text of my document?
21b How do I prepare the reference list?
Chapter 22 Using Chicago Style
22a How do I cite sources within the text of my document?
22b How do I format notes and prepare the bibliography?
Chapter 23 Using CSE Style
23a How do I cite sources within the text of my document?
23b How do I prepare the reference list?
Authors

Mike Palmquist
Mike Palmquist is Professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar at Colorado State University. Prior to returning to his role as a faculty member in the 2020-’21 academic year, Mike served for fourteen years in various university leadership roles, including founding director of the Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT), director of CSU Online (CSU’s Division of Continuing Education), and Associate Provost for Instructional Innovation. His scholarly interests include writing across the curriculum, the effects of computer and network technologies on writing instruction, and new approaches to scholarly publishing.
Mike's work has appeared in journals including College English, College Composition and Communication, ADE Bulletin, Computers and Composition, Kairos, Written Communication, Writing Program Administration, Marketing Education Review, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, and Social Forces, as well as in edited collections. Since 1992, he has coordinated the development of WAC Clearinghouse, a publishing collaborative that provides open-access to more than 125 scholarly books, several academic journals, and a wide range of instructional and professional resources.
Mike is the author of several books, including the textbooks In Conversation, Joining the Conversation: Writing in College and Beyond, The Bedford Researcher, and Designing Writing, all published by Bedford/St. Martin's. He is co-author, with Kate Kiefer, Jake Hartvigsen, and Barbara Godlew, of Transitions: Teaching Writing in Computer-Supported and Traditional Classrooms, published in 1998 by Ablex, and co-author, with Don Zimmerman, of Writing with a Computer, published in 1999 by Allyn and Bacon.
Mike is a member-at-large of the executive board of the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum, a trustee of the University Press of Colorado, and a member of the editorial boards of several journals. He served as chair of the National Council of Teachers of English College Section Steering Committee and as a member of the NCTE Executive Committee from 2009 to 2011. He served as chair of the NCTE College Section Steering Committee Working Group on the Status and Working Conditions of Contingent Faculty, whose policy statement and recommendations were endorsed by the NCTE Executive Committee and published on the NCTE website in 2010.
In 2004, Mike was the recipient of the Charles Moran Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field, awarded by Computers and Composition. In 2006, he was presented with the Outstanding Technology Innovator by the CCCC Committee on Computers in Composition and Communication. He was named a University Distinguished Teaching Scholar in 2000.
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The Bedford Researcher
Sixth Edition| 2018
Mike Palmquist
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Sixth Edition| 2018
Mike Palmquist
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