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How do I go about doing a research paper?: Difference between revisions
How do I go about doing a research paper? (view source)
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== Planning Your Research == | == Planning Your Research == | ||
Before starting your research paper, you should set deadlines for each step that you must complete when writing a research paper. After you have set your deadlines the first deadline that you should set is to choose a suitable topic and come up with several research questions that are related to the topic. The questions should be narrow and not to broad. The questions should also be challenging which will make your research paper more interesting. You research questions should also be grounded, not based on your beliefs, but on the facts. After you have you research questions, you should begin gathering as much information as possible to answer the questions. | |||
== Finding Sources == | == Finding Sources == | ||
The best way to find sources in the library. You can consult with your libriarian about your research project and he or she can direct you to the correct sources, and also show you how to use them. Your library has many sources such as the database that has information on article in newspapers, magazines,journals, monographs, e-journals, and dissertations. When searching the database for information you will find that it has full text, citations, or abstracts of articles. It is best that you locate full text documents, or use the citation to locate the articale that your are looking for. The library also has a print index that has articles that were published befor 1980. Many libraries have a computerized catalog that tells you what books, videos and any other source that your library may have and also where to locate it. More sources for your reseach project can be found on the internet by using the many search engines, directories, archives, online discussions, government sites, and news sites. The internet is a great source, which hold rich sources of information, but doesn't have quality control and therefore anyone can put a their own documents on the Web so be very carful. Other sources can come from your general reference works, like your dictionary, atlas, encyclopedia, and statistics, but are not sources that should be used alone. You can also look up bibliograpies and scholarly citations to find the material that you need or conduct a field research in which you may visit a place that has something to do with your project that can answer some of your questions. With every piece of information that you get, take notes. | |||
== Evaluating Sources == | == Evaluating Sources == | ||
After you have gathered all of the information you must evaluate the sources that you have gathered by checking it's authority, timeliness, reliability, scope, and it's credibility. You have to read the information that you've gathered with an open mind and a critical eye. Determine whether your sources are primary sources, which are original documents like: labratory studies, diaries, eyewitness accounts, letters, legislative bills, and field research reports | |||
== Using Sources without Plagiarizing == | == Using Sources without Plagiarizing == | ||