Research is a process.
Step 1: Understand your assignment
Step 2: Start with a general topic idea
- Read background information in Reference works and learn
- Ask questions
- Identify key concepts and key words
- Identify key issues and different points of view
- Refine and focus your topic
Step 3: Find information
- Use keywords to search for information in books, articles, and other sources
- Add to your keywords list: broader terms, narrower terms, related terms
- Use smart search strategies
Step 4: Evaluate
- Assess your information sources for authority and bias
- Are they good choices for your academic project?
Step 5: Cite Your Sources
- Cite your sources
- Summarize and evaluate your sources in an annotated bibliography