So . . . you've been assigned to do a research project or to write a research paper.This section of the OwLet is designed to help you find answers to these and other questions that you will encounter as you conduct and write about research.
- How do you begin?
- Where do you find sources?
- What kind of notes should you take?
- How do you document and cite from your sources?
Each of the following links will take you to detailed information about specific parts of the research process. If you're new to research--or if you don't feel very confident about your research and writing skills--start at the top and work your way through each of these topics, following all the available links to get an idea of the kinds of help that are available to you.
- How to Begin: Research Starts with a Question
- --How can you broaden your thinking about your topic? How do you focus your effort on a specific research question? This topic will help you work much more efficiently on your research projects!
- Finding Sources
- --What kinds of sources are available to you on campus and online? How do you decide which sources to use? This topic will help you locate unique and useful resources.
- Taking Research Notes
- --How much information should you write down? How can you make sure that you don't plagiarize your sources? This topic will help help you become more accurate and efficient when taking research notes and will help you avoid problems like plagiarism.
- Citing and Documenting Sources
- --Your professor may require MLA, APA, or another format. What are these formats, and how do you use them? This topic will help you understand what these formats are, why they matter, and how to use them.