Research begins with questions. During PRE-SEARCH you will choose a topic to learn about (or one may be provided by your teacher) and identify a specific focus for your work. You may brainstorm, talk about your topic with other people, and conduct preliminary research. By the end of this stage you will have developed a research question worthy of exploring within the guidelines of your assignment.

Spending time upfront exploring your topic and focusing your approach will make you more successful and efficient during the entire research process. Plan to spend a good amount of time reading (or at least skimming) to gain a better grasp of your subject so that you can ask a meaningful and manageable question. Much of what you read may not even be included in your end product, which is why it’s actually better not to take too many notes at this stage. That’s okay; it’s all part of the process. Take your time. In some ways, PRE-SEARCH is the most important step, since you cannot succeed without an appropriate and achievable purpose.

Many researchers begin PRE-SEARCH feeling a little anxious or uncertain. This stage demands patience and concentration and may seem frustrating, but as you select and refine your topic, you are likely to feel more optimistic and excited.