Sophomore Career Research Project

Project Overview:

This is your chance to explore an industry that interests you. At the same time, you will be meeting the research paper and speech competency in English and fulfilling the Division I / Sophomore Board graduation requirement.

Research Component :

This is a three to four page paper analyzing the effects of your career on today's society. The paper includes a minimum of four valid sources, source attribution, and a works cited.

You must use a minimum of four sources to research your chosen career.

Research Sources:

1. Bridges Career Planning Site
2. Professional web site (use the "Connections" tab from Bridges) OR Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 
3. Subscription Service - Subscription services enable you to find magazine, newspaper, and journal articles that will help you analyze the role / importance of your selected career in contemporary society. (see the bottom of this page for help searching these databases.)
   
4. College Website (from Bridges "College Finder" or CollegeBoard)
5. Career Books (331.702 in the Helix Library)
   
6. Optional: professional interview, trade or magazine articles, professional pamphlets or brochures, authentic work-place documents

Career Research: Using the Subscription Services

 

Helix’s Subscription Services provide magazine, newspaper, and journal articles that will help you write your career research essay.

 

What to Look For: searching through the articles in the subscription services takes time and patience. You will need to be creative with your search terms. Also, remember to try searching on both your job name and on the industry name. Ex:  “musician”  / “music industry”

 

YOU MUST HAVE ARTICLES FOR EACH OF THE THREE FOLLOWING AREAS:

 

1. **Criticisms of Profession**

• Look for articles that illustrate how the public misunderstands or criticizes your profession.
• What do you think some criticisms of this career might be? (Try these as search terms!)

• Or, try using these general search terms plus your job name / industry name:

 

*Criticism               *Controversy               *Stereotype      *Misunderstand

*Negative               *Lawsuit                      *Misconception

 

2. ** External Influences that shape / affect the profession**

• Look for articles that illustrate things happening in our society that will affect your job.
•  Try using these search terms plus your job name / industry name:

 

*Technology                                                    *Outsourcing                           

*Economy                                                      *Laws / regulations / legislation *Environmental needs                         *National/global disasters                                *Trends

*Terrorism                                                      *Community needs

 *Public demand / need                         

 

3. ** Benefits / contributions to members of society**

• Look for articles that illustrate why is this career needed. What difference does this profession make in society?
• What do you think are the main contributions your career makes? (Try using these as search terms – it will make the best search!)
• Or, try using these general search terms plus your job name / industry name:

 

*Benefit            *Necessity / Necessary                        *Improve

*Need              *Serve / Service                                   *Relationship

*Importance     *Public Safety                                      *Status

*Impact            *Community                                         *Entertain / Inspire

Subscription Services to try:

1. EBSCO: try simply searching on career or industry name, then look at options for narrowing search
2. eLibrary: under "Advanced Search," choose: Emphasis on Business. This will return articles that focus on the business and career aspect of the job.

1. ProQuest type in just the career name, and you'll get back a list of more specific search terms
2. San Diego Union-Tribune for a local perspective on your career
3. SIRS try searches using your career name plus "social analysis," "benefits," and "relevance."