Contents
At a Glance
(A summary chart of the research process)
Refining Your Topic
Understanding your task
Narrowing a broad topic
Choosing your own topic
Writing a thesis statement
Developing an outline
Finding Information
Looking for information
Developing search terms
Using Southworth Library
Using Information
Evaluating your sources
Creating note cards
Avoiding plagiarism
Creating an outline
The Final Product
Writing your paper
Citing your sources
Proofreading
The final product
Links
(Includes Works Cited and Student Handouts)
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Research Guide for Students
Refining Your Topic |
Understanding Your Assignment
Your teacher
has assigned a specific topic for you to
research. In this case, be clear about the
following:
- What time frame should I cover?
- What types of and how many sources are you required to consult?
(Encyclopedias, newspaper articles, primary source material?)
- How many pages should the final
paper be? This will tell you something about
how broad your subject should be.
Narrowing a Broad Topic
Your teacher has given you
a basic framework for your topic. That means
you need to narrow it down so it is more
manageable. Here are some ideas on how to
do this:
- Narrow the topic to
a problem or question
- Ask a question
- Examine a problem
- Evaluate a situation of solution
- Propose a solution
- Narrow topically
- Select a subtopic of the original topic
- Narrow the topic chronologically
- Select a limited time period for your topic
- Narrow the topic geographically
- Select a geographic area to focus on
within your topic
- More information and examples:
Choosing a topic of your own
Your teacher has asked you
to choose any topic you wish. You need to be
creative and, above all, choose something that
interests you! Use the hints above to narrow
your topic, or consult one of the sources below
(use your passwords if you are off campus):
Writing a clear thesis statement (there are two kinds)
- A research question is used for an analytical paper.
In an analytical research paper, you do research to become an expert on a topic so that you
can restructure and present the parts of the topic from your own perspective. The research
is focused around a research question, which you will answer based on your work.
- A thesis statement is used for an argumentative paper.
In direct contrast to the analytical paper, your approach here is to take a stand on an
issue and use evidence to back up your stance, not to explore or flesh out an unresolved
topic. This stance, this debatable statement or interpretation, is known as your thesis.
- More information and examples:
Developing a preliminary outline for your
paper
- Make a list of the main topics you plan
to cover in your paper.
- Put these points in a logical order.
- Write down what you know about each topic.
- Write down what you want to know about
each topic. This will help direct your
research.
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