Assignment Purpose: The First Part Of This Assignment Will ✓ Solved

Assignment Purpose: The first part of this assignment will

Part 1: In this course you will be using a variety of resources and research tools. This activity will guide you in formulating a topic to use for later assignments in this course.

1. What is something you are curious about? What is something you see out in the world that you want to know more about? Perhaps think of health, business, or socio-cultural issues. Write it here:

(Need help selecting a topic? Review the Research Topic Starting Points guide from the Herzing University Library. Browse some of the resources linked there for generating topic ideas.)

2. Create a Mind Map for your topic in the Credo Reference Database available through the Herzing University Library. You can access the link to that database in the Research Topics Starting Points guide at If you need assistance using this tool, contact the Herzing University Librarians using the contact information in that guide. You might need to play around with how you word your topic. Did the Mind Map help you narrow your topic? Describe your experience with the Mind Map feature and indicate your narrowed topic:

3. Write at least three research questions related to your topic and circle or somehow indicate the one you are most interested in answering:

4. Create a thesis statement for your research project. Be sure it meets the characteristics of a “strong” thesis statement as described in the reading for this unit. Characteristics of a Strong Thesis Statement: · Answers the research question and is adequate for the assignment. · Takes a position – doesn’t just state facts. · It is specific and provable. · It passes the “so what?” test. Include your thesis statement here:

Part 2: The following paragraph is from this source: Spiranec, S., & Mihaela, B. Z. (2010). Information literacy 2.0: Hype or discourse refinement? Journal of Documentation, 66 (1), . doi: Web 2.0 is currently changing what it means to be an information literate person or community…. The erosion did not begin with Web 2.0 but had started considerably earlier and became evident with the first web document without an identifiable author or indication of origin. Generally, this erosion comes naturally with the advancement towards electronic environments. In the era of print culture, the information context was based on textual permanence, unity and identifiable authorship, and was therefore stable. The appearance of Web 1.0 has already undermined that stability by the very nature of digital information which may be easily modified, copied and duplicated. Web 2.0 with its collaborative model of knowledge production and mash-up philosophy finally brought an end to the stability of information context by creating flat and fluid information spaces.

Below are four examples that display usage of this content. For each one, please determine whether or not plagiarism is present. If you feel a passage is plagiarized, explain why. If you feel it was not plagiarized, explain what necessary details are present that show correct usage.

a. Before computers, books and articles had textual permanence and identifiable authorship. This meant that readers could verify the truthfulness of sources more easily than they can now.

b. Spiranec and Mihaela (2010) argue that the Internet has “brought an end to the stability of information context” (p. 147).

c. The idea of information literacy began to radically change as soon as text began to be published on the Internet (Spiranec & Mihaela, 2010).

d. Web 2.0 is currently changing what it means to be an information literate person or community. This activity is adapted from page 85 of Hosier, A., Bullis, D., Bernnard, D., Bobish, G., Holden, I., Hecker, J., . . . Jacobson, T. (2014). The information literacy user’s guide: An open, online textbook.

Paper For Above Instructions

Identifying a research topic is crucial for academic success, particularly in a course that utilizes diverse resources and research tools. This paper discusses my chosen topic, the process of narrowing it down through mind mapping, the formulation of research questions, and the development of a strong thesis statement. The second part of the assignment delves into the intricacies of plagiarism using examples from a scholarly article on information literacy.

Part 1: Formulating a Research Topic

For my research, I am curious about the influence of social media on mental health, particularly among adolescents. The rise of digital platforms has transformed communication dynamics, leading to new psychological implications. By focusing on this topic, I hope to explore both positive and negative effects, providing a balanced perspective on the issue.

Creating a Mind Map

To further develop my topic, I utilized the Mind Map feature in the Credo Reference Database. Initially, I encountered difficulties in rephrasing my topic to highlight specific aspects. However, after several attempts, I narrowed my focus to explore social media's impact on adolescent anxiety and depression. The mind mapping process helped visualize connections between various subtopics, bolstering my understanding and aiding in refining my research focus.

Research Questions

In connection with my topic, I've formulated the following research questions:

  1. How does social media usage correlate with anxiety levels among adolescents?
  2. What role do social media platforms play in the development of self-esteem issues in teenagers?
  3. How can social media be utilized as a tool for promoting mental well-being in youth?

The question I find most compelling is the first one, as it seeks to understand the direct relationship between social media engagement and anxiety, a pressing concern in today’s digital age.

Thesis Statement

After reflecting on the research questions, my thesis statement is: “Although social media can provide support and community for adolescents, its excessive use correlates strongly with increased anxiety and depression levels, necessitating a balanced approach to digital engagement.” This statement clearly answers my research question, takes a definitive stance, and passes the "so what?" test, emphasizing the topic's relevance.

Part 2: Analyzing Plagiarism

The provided paragraph by Spiranec and Mihaela (2010) discusses the evolution of information literacy amidst digital transformations. Analyzing the usage of this passage in different examples provides insight into what constitutes plagiarism.

Example a

This passage is likely plagiarism because it does not provide an attribution or citation, failing to acknowledge the source's original ideas.

Example b

This instance does not constitute plagiarism as it correctly attributes the quote to Spiranec and Mihaela (2010) and includes proper page citation, following academic standards for referencing.

Example c

Here, the discussion refers to Spiranec and Mihaela (2010) without directly quoting their work. However, since it provides the necessary citation, it is not plagiarism but rather a proper paraphrase.

Example d

This example also appears to be plagiarized since it presents information from the source without sufficient citation or attribution, making it necessary to clarify the original documentation used.

Conclusion

Engaging in this assignment has clarified the importance of choosing a pertinent research topic and understanding the nuances of academic integrity and plagiarism. By evaluating different uses of a single source, I gained valuable insights into proper citation practices, facilitating my ability to conduct research responsibly in future academic endeavors.

References

  • Spiranec, S., & Mihaela, B. Z. (2010). Information literacy 2.0: Hype or discourse refinement? Journal of Documentation, 66(1).
  • Harris, R. A. (2001). Plagiarism: A survivor's guide. Retrieved from https://www.virtualsalt.com/antiplag.htm
  • Northwestern University. (2022). Understanding plagiarism. Retrieved from https://www.northwestern.edu/provost/policies/plagiarism.html
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab. (n.d.). Avoiding plagiarism. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/plagiarism/avoiding_plagiarism.html
  • Belmont University. (2018). The Academic Honor Code. Retrieved from https://www.belmont.edu/studentaffairs/honor-code.html
  • University of California, Berkeley. (2021). Academic integrity. Retrieved from https://research.berkeley.edu/academic-integrity/
  • Paper Wright. (2019). How to avoid plagiarism in your writing. Retrieved from https://www.paperwritings.com/avoid-plagiarism
  • Williams, J. (2020). Common types of plagiarism. Writing Commons. Retrieved from https://writingcommons.org/article/common-types-of-plagiarism/
  • Bradford, K. (2017). The importance of citing sources. Retrieved from https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=721326
  • Yale University. (2022). Academic integrity. Retrieved from https://yalebooks.yale.edu/academic-integrity/

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