Brainstorm ideas: use concept maps and identify keywords and synonyms
Define and refine your topic: not too narrow or not too broad
Formulate your research questions.
Factual questions - You may need to investigate some factual questions before you begin your research. For instance: What does hydraulic fracturing mean?
Research questions - What do you want to know about your topic? Is your question researchable and answerable?
Develop a focused thesis statement.
State the purpose of your paper
Present your arguments
Identify type of resources that you need for your paper.
Journal articles, books, encyclopedias, World Wide Web
Primary sources vs. Secondary sources
Primary sources - original works or first-hand information recorded at the time of an event
Secondary sources - discussions or reviewed materials after the event took place
Academic vs. Non-academic
Academic - peer-reviewed articles or reviewed articles
Non-academic - newspaper articles, editorials or letters to the editors
Find information on your topic using library resources.
Subscription databases
Catalogs
EDS (EBSCO Discovery Service)
Conduct the search.
Keyword
Subject Heading: Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH)
Boolean Operators: to limit or broaden your search
AND, OR, NOT
Quotes " " - search for an exact phrase
Parentheses ( ) - combine multiple search terms
Asterisk * - add to the root of a search term
Evaluate and identify materials that support your paper (CRAAP Model).
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy
Purpose
Cite your sources.
Properly quote, summarize, or paraphrase the original sources that you use in your paper.
