Skip to main content

Overview

It's a good idea to keep detailed research notes throughout the process. This can often save lots of time in the end.

Step 1: Identify your topic

  • With what topics are you already familiar?
  • In what topics do you have a genuine interest?
  • In what topics do you already have a strong opinion; positive or negative?

Step 2: Find background information

  • Identify keywords related to your topic.
  • Search encyclopedia and other general sources.
  • Collect additional keywords that you can use to search later.
  • Generally, it is ok to use Wikipedia in this step, but remember Wikipedia is like your really smart older sibling; they may provide you with lots of great bits of information to get started, but you would never use them as a source for your project.

Step 3: Search for your sources

Step 4: Evaluate what you’ve found

  • CARS Checklist
    • Credibility: Is this source believable and trustworthy?
    • Accuracy: Is the information correct and current?
    • Reasonableness: Is the information fair and objective?
    • Support: Is the information verifiable?

Step 5: Make notes

Step 6: Write your paper

  • Narrow your original topic into a research question.
  • Consider:
    • Is the research question researchable in terms of the available timeframe and required resources?
    • Is the research question too broad or too narrow?

Step 7: Cite your sources

  • Gives credit to the authors and materials you’ve used
  • Provides your writing with credibility

Step 8: Proofread