I have to do a Research Paper!  How do I Start?

1. Read the assignment carefully so you’ll know what’s expected. Some assignments require a particular number or type of sources. If your topic is assigned, make sure you understand it. If you can choose your topic, brainstorm for ideas, people, or events that interest you.  If you don’t understand an assignment, be sure to ask your professor about it. Most professors are glad to answer questions from their students.

2. Consider what you know, and don’t know, about your topic. What would you like to know? What kind of information would your audience be interested in? If you are arguing for one side of a controversial topic, think about the kind of evidence you might need to use in your argument.  If you need basic background information or a quick introduction, consider using sources from the REFERENCE area. Ask a Reference Librarian to help you find a reference source on your topic.

3. To find BOOKS dealing with your topic, use the library’s catalog. The catalog is like an inventory of all the items the library owns. Think of the catalog as a list of books organized in several ways: by TITLE, by AUTHOR’s name, or by SUBJECT.  Books provide broad coverage of a topic. Because they take a long time to produce, books are usually not the most current source of information, but they give lots of background and analysis.

4. To find MAGAZINE AND JOURNAL ARTICLES dealing with your topic, use a PERIODICALS INDEX. Indexes list articles the same way that a catalog lists books; however, indexes cover all articles published, rather than just the articles available in our library. Traditional indexes point you to where an article is available. There are now several full-text indexes, such as EBSCO, which provide some complete articles online. Check the Indexes and Databases page for examples.  Magazine and journal articles are usually much shorter than books, and therefore have a much narrower focus. Articles also tend to be more current that books and so can be useful if you need the most recent information on a topic.

5. Check the INTERNET for more information. Start with a WEB INDEX (like Yahoo) or a SEARCH ENGINE (like Google Scholar). A quick list of Internet Search Tools is available from the library’s web page. The World Wide Web has an amazing variety of information on practically all topics. However, not all of it is useful, and not all of it is accurate or objective.  If you need extremely current information, the Web may be your best choice, since information on breaking news is available as the event occurs.

 6. Keep track of your sources. For most academic papers, you must provide a BIBLIOGRAPHY, a list of all the sources you used. A source is listed in a bibliography by its CITATION, a format giving information such as the title, author’s name, publisher, and year.  There are many citation styles. Your instructor may require a specific style. Citation manuals and help sheets are available at the library or from the web site.

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This page last updated on April 17, 2007.