Research Process

Step One: Identify & Develop Your Topic

1. What is the topic?
2. What do you know about this topic?
3. What do you wonder? Formulate some questions.
4. Create a keyword list to begin your searching.

Step Two: Preliminary Search

1. Conduct a preliminary search
2. Keep track of your sources in a document as you take notes with them so when it comes to citations you don't have to backtrack.

Step Three: Locate Materials

1. What print materials are available?
2. What library databases can assist you?
3. Google search (advanced search and scholar).
4. Evaluate your sources.

Step Four: Create Your Outline

1. Place your thesis statement at the beginning.
2. List the major points that support your thesis (target is 3 major points)
3. List supporting ideas or arguments for each major point.

Step Five: Write your Paper

1. Begin research and drafting your paper.
2. When adding notes to each area of your outline, insert a citation/footnote with the URL of the source.
   1. If using Google Docs you can use the Insert>Footnote option or Explore Tool for Research & Footnotes.
   2. Most importantly be sure to keep the URL for all online sources so you can create a works cited page.

Tip: Use the Easy Bib Add on in Google Docs to build your Works Cited page as you add each new source.

Step Six: Cite

1. Properly format any required 'in-text' citations
2. Create properly formatted Works Cited page.

Step Seven: Proofread & Revise

1. Share your document with another set of eyes to proofread for errors and suggestions.
2. Make revisions.

Step Eight: Publish & Share

Check out this Research Planning Calculator.