General Use: Getting Started with Research: Home

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is the most extensive and best resource for information on writing, research, and citations. Visit their page here:

 1. Read the Assignment

• Read the Assignment - don't lose points for not following directions.

• Read the Rubric - know what you will be graded on

• Underline the type and number of sources and keywords

• Identify essential questions

• Identify the appropriate writing style

2. Search for Information

• Create a list of questions about your subject, keeping in mind the essential questions

• Create a list of keywords from the question list (topic words, synonyms, words with similar spelling)

• Do some general reading on your topic to gain basic knowledge of your subject

• Use search engines, library databases, ebooks, print and video

• Check topic with your teacher

3. Evaluate and Analyze Sources

• Accuracy: copyright date, last update, sources verified, quality of source material, range of dates for source material, links work
• Bias: both sides equally presented, no facts omitted, not a parody
• Credentials: authors' credentials, contact information, sponsor or publisher of website
• Primary Source: created during the time period you are researching (for example, a diary, newspaper article from that period, etc.)
• Secondary Source: is a source that was created after the time period to analyze or report on the time period.
• Answers essential questions?

 4. Cite your sources

• Cite before you Write
• Avoid Plagiarism 

5. Organize and Write - use Noodle Tools

• Take Notes

• Outline the Paper

• Write a Thesis Statement

• Incorporate Source Material

• Reflect, Compare, and Contrast - use original thinking 

The content of the box above was adapted and used with permission from Elizabeth Strauss, Laconia NH High School.  

http://library.laconiaschools.org/lhs/researchsteps