Research Tips: Research Steps

Research Steps

1. Prepare

• Read the entire assignment
• Highlight amount and type of resources required
• Underline useful keywords
• Brainstorm additional keywords for searching

2. Plan

• Pre-search for background information
• Note main ideas or topics
• Write essential questions

3. Research

• Gather evidence from databases or search engine sites
• Take notes that are detailed and trackable
• Evaluate all sources from search engines such as Google
• Create citations for each source you use
• Find more sources than required

4. Organize and Create

• Outline your paper
• Select most appropriate sources
• Create a rough draft
• Build a works cited page

5. Re-evaluate

• Check: Did you meet all assignment requirements?
• Verify: Were all your sources credible and relevant?
• Double Check: Did you correctly cite your sources?
• Finalize draft

6. Revise and Submit

• Have one other person review your final draft
• Edit one final time
• Submit to your professor