Step 1: Getting Started

Preparing for the assignment and getting ready to choose a topic

Information Search

Your information search at this stage involves getting a “bird’s eye” view of possible topics, browsing for ideas and finding out what kind of sources (print, electronic, and Internet) might be available to you on various topics.

Steps for Getting Started

Understand the assignment: read over the instructions for the assignment to make sure you fully understand what the instructor has in mind and on what basis you will be graded.

Steps for Getting Started: Consider the process you’ll useConsider the process you’ll use

The paper is your final product, but a research paper involves an extensive process before you can generate the product.

If you focus too quickly on the end product, you may miss some of the important research steps and find yourself writing a paper without enough understanding of the topic to do an A+ job.

Start a research log and begin jotting notes about not only “what” you plan to do but also “how” you plan to do it.

Steps for Getting Started: Research logResearch log

A research log is your diary of your research process.

Start your research log as soon as you get your assignment.

Use a separate notebook for the log or create a new folder or file on the computer.

Make your research schedule one of the first entries.

A well-kept log traces your line of reasoning as your project evolves, tells where you’ve ended each work session, and suggests what your next step might be.

Steps for Getting Started: Research logResearch log

In your log, always record In your log, always record the date as well as the the date as well as the following elements:following elements:

Your current step in your search for information

The search strategy you used to find that information

The name, location, and other details of exactly where you found the information

The main point of the information you found

Where you’ve placed your detailed content notes

Your suggested next step for when you return to your research

Your evolving overall thoughts and insights as you move through the research and writing process

Your awareness that you’re becoming ready to move away from gathering material to organizing it--from organizing it to writing about it--and from drafting to revising

Excerpt from a Research Log

October 16: Got online to find sources for “American dream” and was overwhelmed by the number of hits in Yahoo. Gave up. Logged onto the school library’s web site and searched some databases there. EBSCO turned up lots of promising stuff. Chose several citations and emailed full records to myself to check out later. Readers Guide Abstracts also had articles, and some were available as full text. Printed out three of the best ones. Need to start taking notes on them. Will go to the library tomorrow to find EBSCO sources.

Steps for Getting Started: Set your Set your deadlines for each step of the assignmentdeadlines for each step of the assignment

You have been given deadlines for the major steps in the research process.

It is still a good idea to set your own personal deadlines for steps in the process that are not for a grade.

Steps for Getting Started: Think about possible topicsThink about possible topics

You are given boundaries for your topic choice, but you will have some freedoms when choosing your topic.

Steps for Getting Started: Browse, read, relaxBrowse, read, relax

Start by thumbing through the textbook. Browse the table of contents, chapter headings

and subheadings, to get an overview of the subject matter.

Visit the library and browse in the catalog to find out what sources are held by the library which may relate to this class.

Browse some of the subject-indexed sources on the Internet with the same purpose.

RememberRemember: Your objective in this step is to get a “bird’s eye view” of the general subject matter, to give your brain some ideas to work on while you’re getting ready for the step of choosing a topic.

Steps for Getting Started: Relate Relate your prior experience and learningyour prior experience and learning

The process of successful research and writing involves building on what you know.

You don’t need to know a lot about a subject in order to use it as your topic, but choosing one you’re totally unfamiliar with could be a mistake.

It may take so much time and effort to become informed about the subject that you don’t really have time to get into the depth required by your assignment.

Steps for Getting Started: Jot down your Jot down your questions and ideas about possible topicsquestions and ideas about possible topics

Use your research log to start recording questions which interest you or ideas for possible topics.

You’ll end up with a list of ideas and musings, some of which are obviously ridiculous and not reasonable topics for your paper, but don’t worry about that at this point.

Think about things which interest you and which build upon some experience or knowledge you have or build upon things you’re presently learning in class.

Steps to Getting Started: Brainstorm, alone and with othersBrainstorm, alone and with others

Toss ideas around in your mind.

Bounce ideas off of your classmates, your teacher, or (heaven forbid) your siblings and parents, to get their reactions and ideas.

Many times another person will have a fresh perspective you might not have thought of, or something they say will trigger an idea for you.