Considers the methods, evidence, and logic that social scientists use to create new knowledge claims.

Features comprehensive coverage of research methods, including how to plan and propose original research, how to gather data or evidence from sources and how to document it.

• Goes beyond the typical survey of library tools and offers a brief chapter on how to use the Internet as a research tool.
• Features five chapters on the primary research methods of interpreting primary documents, interviewing, observing, surveying, and experimenting.

Contains many examples, both professional and student, throughout.

Presents general principles of effective visual rhetoric -- graphics and document design -- with a brief introduction to using computers to design easy-to-read documents.

• Contains a primer for creating effective graphics.

Features a chapter on oral presentations that provides a brief but comprehensive treatment of how to plan, organize, and rehearse an effective oral presentation.

Focuses on the social nature of writing.

• Treats genres as social constructions that help people within a discourse community exchange desired information persuasively and efficiently.
• Give pointers for collaborating in research and writing and illustrates them with professional texts produced by collaboration.
• Encourages students to collaborate on assignments and review each other's work through all stages of research and writing.

Surveys career-related genres and provides advice on how to seek a job or admission to graduate and professional schools.