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Overview

It's a good idea to keep detailed research notes throughout the process. This can often save lots of time in the end.

Step 1: Identify your topic

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Some questions to get you started

  • With what topics are you already familiar?
In what topics do you have a genuine interest? In what topics do you already have a strong opinion; positive or negative?

Still can't think of a topic?

Consider:

  • Brainstorming; write down any ideas that come to mind
Talking with lecturers Talking with classmates Consulting sources like general and subject specific encyclopaedias (ahem, Wikipedia), handbooks, and textbooks for ideas Browsing recent issues of periodicals for current issues
Wikipedia: The Good and the Not So Good

Wikipedia is a great place to start your research, but not a great place to end it. 

Strengths of Wikipedia

  • Wikipedia is updated frequently. New information can be, and often is, added to the site within minutes. Due to editorial limitations, scholarly encyclopaedias are usually updated annually. 

Because Wikipedia crowd sourced, there is the potential for a broader authorship than is found in academic publications. 

Citations in Wikipedia offer a wider array of materials, including articles and resources that are available for free and online.

Weaknesses of Wikipedia

  • Editors on Wikipedia are not necessarily experts. Authorship on Wikipedia is often anonymous or obscured.

Articles are always changing, making them difficult to cite in your research. An article you read today, may look quite different tomorrow.

Articles can be vandalised, providing wildly inaccurate information.

Consider your assignment

Before you begin, make sure you understand your assignment and its requirements.

Consider:

  • Length; How many words are required?
Date Due; When is the paper due? Additional requirements; Are there any specific requirements for the assignment?

Step 2: Find background information

  • Identify keywords related to your topic.
  • Search encyclopedia and other general sources.
  • Collect additional keywords that you can use to search later.
  • Generally, it is ok to use Wikipedia in this step, but remember Wikipedia is like your really smart older sibling; they may provide you with lots of great bits of information to get started, but you would never use them as a source for your project.

Step 3: Search for your sources

Step 4: Evaluate what you’ve found

  • CARS Checklist
    • Credibility: Is this source believable and trustworthy?
    • Accuracy: Is the information correct and current?
    • Reasonableness: Is the information fair and objective?
    • Support: Is the information verifiable?

Step 5: Make notes

Step 6: Write your paper

  • Narrow your original topic into a research question.
  • Consider:
    • Is the research question researchable in terms of the available timeframe and required resources?
    • Is the research question too broad or too narrow?

Step 7: Cite your sources

  • Gives credit to the authors and materials you’ve used
  • Provides your writing with credibility

Step 8: Proofread

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