Internet Magazines, Blogs, and Images
Research is not always about gathering facts. Sometimes you need to do research in order to formulate an opinion about a topic.To make sure your opinion is as well-informed as possible, it can help to research what others are discussing.
On the Internet, there is a constant flow of information from a variety of resources. Because people are free to speak their minds online, many people are posting their thoughts via magazines and blogs.
In addition, when you need to support your information via images, a good basic research skill to have is where to find the pictures you need.
Internet Magazines
A common way to find information and opinions online is to review Internet-based magazines. Some of these magazines might also be available through your local library, so do not limit yourself to what is available online.The variety of magazines online can help you to learn more about how different groups feel about your topic and the direction you need to take with your topic.
Some current Internet magazines include:
- Time www.time.com
- Slate www.Slate.com
- National Geographic www.nationalgeographic.com
- Poets and Writers www.pw.org
- People www.People.com
- Cosmopolitan www.cosmopolitan.com
By reading these magazines online, you will be able to review the most recent articles, as well as order older articles as needed. You might also find that you can review the authors who contributed, as well as learn more from the online discussions that continue when articles are posted online.
Here are some ways to use online magazines in your research:
- Find topic specific magazines. The more focused the magazine is on the topic you want to cover; the more relevant the articles will be for your research. Whenever possible, find a magazine that is in the same market as your research topic.
- Review pertinent articles. Review magazine articles that are relevant. Avoid other articles or just read their titles.
- Review online comments. When an article is posted online, the comment board might be opened to readers. Reading what others have to say in response might help you with your research and the direction of your research.
- Ask questions in comments. If you sign up to comment as well, you may want to ask the author or the other commenters for additional information. This can help you as you begin to create your final research piece.
With online magazines, you can sign up to review the magazine as a whole, or you can review the articles that are posted online. In either case, the more you can read that is written with an opinion in mind, the more clearly you will be able to form your own opinion.
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