(HENRY’S) RESEARCH METHOD

This is just the way I do it, of course not the only/best way. I like to concentrate on each roman numerals I and especially II for at least a couple of days each – in other words, mass produce these step so that once you’re done with a step you won't have to go back.

I. Gather materials1. Lexis/Google- Print entire articles, skim to decide to print or not, don’t read yet2. Books- Copy entire chapters by looking at the tables of contents for relevant information, quickly flip

through the chapter to see if it’s card-material3. Specific websites- cato.org, etc.* At the end of this process you should have a big stack of criss-crossed papers – the idea is the EXHAUST the literature on your assignment.

II. Read1. Sit down with a pen, use one that will show up when copied2. Bracket the cards,

- put the ENTIRE tag in the margin for that card as if you have flowed it = ‘pre-tag’- only underline card if you can do so neatly and correctly- bracket entire paragraphs- label aff/neg for ease of sorting, and maybe the type of arg’s [ (I), (S), Adv ]

< He also pointed out that the Convention requires that the by-products be processed."The fact that whale meat ends up on the market is a requirement of the Convention toensure that resources are not wasted. It is not a "loophole" or "illegal" or "commercialwhaling in disguise" as the anti-whaling rhetoric suggests."

Komatsu emphasized that "since the Convention requires that its regulations be basedon scientific findings, rather than condemning the research, all members of the IWCshould be conducting similar research." "Criticism of the research in which more than100 samples and measurements are taken from each whale is a rejection of the basicprinciple that resources should be managed on a scientific basis", said added. >

III. Type1. After reading all the material, type the tags and citations exactly like this:

Whale populations are strong.Tsai 2003 (Henry, Prof. Of Science, “The Truth on Whales,” p. 9)

Whales are nutritionally unique and tasty.Zhang 2003 (Daniel, Prof. Of Food, “Whale Burgers: The Future of McDonalds,” Three Penny Press, p. 2)

2. Take out all pages without any cards, don’t throw them away, but fold them in half hamburger style – to be used in roman numeral V

IV. Tape Cards to Cites1. Print out the pages of cites2. Cut out the cards that will match up to the first page of cites (leave your ‘pre-tag’ on, and keep them

in order in a pile

IWCrequiremeat tobeprocessed

3. Cut the right margin off the first page of cites, cut slits between each set of tag+cite, but leave some of the left margin in tact

4. Tape the cards from bottom up for the first page, one piece of tape is good, don’t waste tape5. Do the same for the rest of the pages of cites6. Now slit off the left margin, and all cards should be with their tags, you can leave the pre-tag on

V. Sort – Matrix Style1. Sit down at a BIG table - sort all cards into AFF and NEG2. Take all NEG cards, for example, and sort into Inh, Solvency, Harms, DA ideas, CP ideas3. Put each category horizontally across a big table4. Take the first pile, Inh, and sort into specific arguments (ex. Plan has already passed b/c X, Plan has

already passed b/c Y, Plan has already passed b/c Z) – Repeat with all other categories5. You should now have individual columns of big arguments (Inh, Sol, etc) split vertically into specific

arguments6. Do the same with the AFF pile.7. Take those half-folded sheets of paper and use them as folders, take the cards from each pile and stick

them in a half-folded sheet of paper, label the folder [ (I): Plan Already Passed, (S): Can’t Stop Whalers ] – Keep them labels short

VI. Block – Keep a one-inch margin around the page so copying won’t cover it1. Print out blocking paper and copy it, in this format:

Bellaire Negative WhalingHenry Tsai ( / )

______________________________________

2. Take each folder and put them on one block each, the title of the folder = title of block (write on line in middle of page)

3. If making a frontline, then pick the best card for the 1NC – consider the length of the card too, since you have the Neg Block to read more cards

4. The “( / )” is for the page number of the block, i.e. if the content of the folder takes two pages to block, the top would say “( 1 / 2 )”

5. Numbering – Only number the arguments if they are part of a frontline (pick out the best cards from each folder for the frontline, the rest of secondlines), if they are secondlines or updates then write “( )” in place of the number.

6. Each block’s cards should be blocked from best to worse 7. Taping – put pieces of tape ONLY on the sides, never top and bottom unless you’re rich and you got

extra tape, but make sure you cover the entire side (copying purposes)8. Use pens that show up, none of that BiC Round Stic, use the inky pens9. Keep blocks short

VII. Index1. Organize the blocks in this order: Inherency, Solvency, Harms, DA’s, CP’s, etc.2. Number the entire file, bottom right corner3. Type the index so they’re neat, don’t be like me, look at Henry Whaling File for format – include the

running page numbers (not the block numbers from top right corner)4. Optional but good... Type up a summary of the Aff case, in less than a page, just to show off what

you know and so others can get a quick idea of the Aff