The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for writing a research paper. Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way, you may need to rearrange these steps.
Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment. Since this is the very first step in writing a paper, it is vital that it be done correctly. Here are some tips for selecting a topic:
Once you have identified your topic, it may help to state it as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about the epidemic of obesity in the American population, you might pose the question "What are the causes of obesity in America?" By posing your subject as a question you can more easily identify the main concepts or keywords to be used in your research.
Before beginning your research in earnest, do a preliminary search to determine whether there is enough information out there for your needs and to set the context of your research. Look up your keywords in the online library catalog (OLC), check out the library's reference holdings for general background information, or Google to see what's out there. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes and textbooks. You may find it necessary to adjust the focus of your topic in light of the resources available to you.
With the direction of your research now clear to you, you can begin locating material on your topic. There are a number of places you can look for information:
If you are looking for books, do a subject search in the OLC. A Keyword search can be performed if the subject search doesn't yield enough information. Print or write down the location (Dewey decimal number or call number) of the item(s). Note the circulation status - if a book is in, it will say 1/1 available (if it's checked out, it will say 0/1 available). When you locate the book on the shelf, look at the books located nearby; similar items are always shelved in the same area. If you need help, don't be afraid to ASK THE LIBRARIAN!
Use the library's databases - JSTOR, Literary Reference Center, GALE Opposing Viewpoints in Context, or GALE High Schools in Context - to find journal articles. Choose the databases and formats best suited to your particular topic; ask at the librarian if you need help figuring out which database best meets your needs. Many of the articles in the databases are available in full-text format.
Use search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.) and subject directories to locate materials on the Internet. There is a collection of helpful search engines on the library website here.
See the Evaluating Websites section of the library website for tips on evaluating the authority and quality of the information you have located. Your instructor expects that you will provide credible, truthful, and reliable information and you have every right to expect that the sources you use are providing the same. This step is especially important when using Internet resources, many of which are regarded as less than reliable.
Consult the resources you have chosen and note the information that will be useful in your paper. Be sure to document all the sources you consult, even if you there is a chance you may not use that particular source. The author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be needed later when creating a bibliography. Don't forget to utilize Noodletools for your project as instructed by your teacher!
Begin by organizing the information you have collected. The next step is the rough draft, wherein you get your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. This step will help you organize your ideas and determine the form your final paper will take. After this, you will revise the draft as many times as you think necessary to create a final product to turn in to your instructor.
Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.
Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes: it gives proper credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references. The MLA is the most likely citation format you'll use in your time here at Archmere.
Failure to cite your sources properly is plagiarism. Plagiarism is avoidable!
The final step in the process is to proofread the paper you have created. Read through the text and check for any errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure the sources you used are cited properly. Make sure the message that you want to get across to the reader has been thoroughly stated.
Additional research tips:
Adapted from "Basic Steps in the Research Process" from North Hennepin Community College, 2020