The following seven steps outline a simple and effective strategy for finding information for a research paper and documenting the sources you find. Depending on your topic and your familiarity with the library, you may need to rearrange or recycle these steps. Adapt this outline to your needs.
| STEP 1: Choose & Develop a Topic |
Select a topic, narrow or broaden your topic, and identify keywords to search for your topic. |
| STEP 2: Find Background Information |
Put your topic in context by looking in general information sources. Find major concepts and theories for your topic. |
| STEP 3: Find Books & Videos |
Find information in the library such as books, videos, and other material that relates to your topic. |
| STEP 4: Find Articles |
Use periodical indexes and online databases to find articles. Learn the difference between scholarly and popular articles. |
| STEP 5: Find Internet Resources |
Find information on the Internet relating to your topic. Evaluate the information for reliability and scholarly content. |
| STEP 6: Avoid Plagiarism |
Learn what plagiarism is, see examples, and acquire strategies for avoiding plagiarism in your papers. |
| STEP 7: Cite Your Sources |
Cite your print and electronic sources correctly in MLA, APA, and Turabian styles. |
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