The Research Process

1- Choose and refine your topic

• Choose a topic that interests you.
• Create a list of "Key Words" to help you locate information.
• Use an encyclopedia or reference work to create a general overview of your topic.
• Use your overview to refine or focus your topic for a subject you can cover well.
• Write a statement of purpose based on your focused topic.
• Brainstorm and record research questions about your focused topic.  
• Group questions that are similar topics and add new questions for each topic.
• Create an outline of your topics (grouped questions).
• Change your statement of purpose into a Thesis Statement.

2 - Create a research "Plan"

• Record your Start and Due Dates.
• On a calendar, assign completion dates to each research task (No. 1 through 9).
• Stick to your completion dates for each task.

3 - Locate and Retrieve materials 

• Make a list of possible sources for you topic.
• Locate the best sources using print and digital sources including databases.
• Make a source card for each reference you intend to use.

4 - Evaluate relevancy of materials

• Determine Authority, Accuracy, Bias, Currency and Coverage of each source.
• Use only sources that are deemed relevant and reliable.

5 - Take notes

• Create a separate note card for each fact or quote and note the source at the top of each card.

6 - Write your paper

• Write the body of your research paper from your note cards.
• Insert parenthetical citations for information cited from sources.
• Write your introduction and conclusion paragraphs.

7 - Proofread your paper

• Check the body of your paper for correct grammar and punctuation.
• Check the work for accuracy and relevancy of content.
• Check the body of your paper for correct format based on the style chosen by your teacher or professor (e.g. MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian). 

8 - Create a "Works Cited" page and "Title Page"

• Use your source note cards to create formatted bibliographic entries.
• Arrange each entry in alphabetical order on your Works Cited page.
• Create a properly formatted Title Page.
  

9 - Turn your paper in on or before your due date