Research Steps

1. Carefully review the assignment and define your research topic. Your teacher may assign a topic or allow you to pick one. As you start your research, the important thing is to know exactly what you’re expected to do. Don’t go to the library or media center without the project requirements. They are your guide.

In selecting topics, you may want to begin by browsing general works like a textbook or encyclopedia. These sources will help you identify topics for which a lot of information is available.

2. Identify possible sources. Once you have defined your topic, spend some time browsing the library’s catalogue. Also look over the library’s shelves to identify books that might be helpful.

Another place to look is the Guide to Periodical Literature. This reference work will help you find recent magazines and newspaper articles. Using the Internet will also help in your search. Bookmark the most promising sites so you can visit them again.

3. Identify the best sources. Once you’ve listed possible sources, select the best ones for your research task. Use newer books and articles when possible. Generally, newer sources are more likely than older ones to reflect current research. Of course, this does not apply to primary sources (sources from the period you are studying).

4. Gather information from your sources. Once you have identified your sources, it is time to gather the specific information you need. You may decide to take notes on note cards or binder paper. Be sure to go back to the project requirements as you gather information. Think about these two questions:
(1) Which pieces of information will help me complete the research task?
(2) What is the best way to organize the information?

Be sure to write down bibliography (source) information as you research. Doing so will save time and confusion at the end of your project.

5. Create the product. Sometimes you may have to write a paper. At other times, you may be required to produce a poster, oral report, or other assignment. In all cases, keep in mind who your audience is. Try to create a product that meets the needs of the audience.

Here’s a helpful hint. If something is interesting for you to write or create, it is more likely to be interesting to your audience. If you are bored, your audience will be too. Adding visuals such as pictures, graphs, maps, timelines, or artifacts will add interest to your project.

6. Reflect on what you have done. When your project is complete, stop and think about your experience. What did you learn about researching a topic and presenting the results? What went well? How would you tackle the same task in the future? What would you do differently?

Ideas About Sources

Here are some tips on using different kinds of sources.

Library Books

•	author
•	title of book
•	city of publication
•	publisher’s name
•	year of publication

Example: Arburn, Michael. Learning History: An Adventure Worth Taking. New York: Random House, 2004.

Newspapers and Magazines

•	author
•	article title
•	magazine or newspaper
•	date of publication
•	page numbers of the article

Example: Adams, Steve. “Finding a Great Hotel in Paris.” Travel Magazine, July 2003: 38-42.

Internet Resources

The Internet is an amazing research tool. There are millions of Web sites to visit. However, not all Web sites are created equal. Anybody can create a Web site and post information on it. Some sites are reliable. Others are not. Here are some ideas on picking the best sites.

In evaluating Web sites, think about three questions:

1. Is the information from a reliable source?

2. Is the information biased?

3. Is the information accurate?

For ways to write bibliographic citations for Web sites, visit www.noodletools.com. There you will find ways to cite online newspaper and magazine articles, personal Web pages, professional Web pages, and just about any source you can imagine.