STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS AND TOOLS TO HELP YOU:

Select a Topic:

• Your topic may be assigned to you, or you may have to select your own. This is an important step, because research takes time and effort and you want this to be a topic that you are interested and invested in. Here is a sheet to help you narrow down your topic: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5p5tDBOgIgQSmJZb1R3b1Y1SjA/edit?usp=sharing

Seeking Information:

• There are lots of places to seek out information and content on your topic. Good research involves using a variety of resources. Use this chart to keep track of the type of sources you have used and check the progress of your research: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y4X3PDGCIZkb-A5wwHo7FwIirnD5HsKN4OMIz9UFKDM/edit?usp=sharing
  • For Print Sources:
    • The MMRHS Library Catalog: https://bhrsd.follettdestiny.com
    • CW Mars: The public libraries of Central and Western MA Online Catalog: http://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/home
  • For Journal, Magazines, and other Reference Materials:
    • Databases that the library subscribes to, some of which require a password, so be sure to get the password list from the library: https://sites.google.com/site/monumentmountainlibrary/databases

Evaluate and Curate Your Information:

• You need to evaluate the information you find and determine if passes the CRAAP test. Is it Current? Is it Reliable? What Authority wrote this? Is it Accurate? What is the Purpose of this document? Here is a form to fill out to help you determine if a source passes the test: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UkB6VK-1mQn7QUmYiHLW2kMkkA7d8iASfneOTrcyyaY/edit?usp=sharing
• Curation is about gathering resources and items together to form a cohesive collection. This is what you do in research, you gather items together that will help you put together a cohesive and comprehensive final product. There are some great tools out there to help you gather this all into one place. Most of these are online and work across platforms, so matter what device you are using, you can access your research finds. Check out the Curation Tools page to find one that will best help you.
• NOTETAKING: Watch this video tutorial on how to use NoodleTools to take notes and write an outline.

Cite Your Work

• The best way to show all the research you have done and to avoid plagiarism is to cite your sources. This is a two step process, click on the links to learn more about these steps:
  • Embedded Citations: When you need them and how to do them.
  • The Works Cited Page: How to format one and tools to help you do them.