Guide to Research
1. Define the Topic: What do I want to learn? What do I already know?
2. Develop a Research Question: What question do I want to answer about the topic I developed?
If you're stuck, go between steps 3 and 2. Read about, listen to, and watch videos about your topic until you have come up with a thick question. Check out this slide for some strong thick question starters:
Genius Hour-Thick and Thin Questions.pptx3. Do Background Research
Search the reference databases below for background information on your topic. This is the step during which you could also look at Wikipedia. Just remember to verify what you learn in Wikipedia with another source like Britannica and the World Book.
4. Develop a Thesis Statement
Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument
5. Search for Evidence
Google Search Tips:
6. Evaluate Your Sources: How can I determine the quality of the information that I find?
7. Cite Your Sources: How can I record the sources that I find?
8. Organize Information
Taking Cornell Notes
Sample MLA Paper
9. Evaluate. Use this checklist to evaluate your work. Don't be hard on yourself if you have to go back and add or edit parts of your project. It's all part of the process!