What do I already know about the research process?
Get organized: Create a folder on your student Google docs. Save any research database articles you find in the folder, and keep notes and rough drafts there. Get a "flash drive" to easily carry information back and forth from home to school.
1. Develop a topic: Choose a topic. Do some "pre-searching" in the library by reading a short article from a reference source such as an encyclopedia. Is your topic too broad? Too narrow? As you read, jot down important people, events, and ideas which may be good subtopics for your research.
2. Develop a research plan
3. Locate sources of information in a variety of formats: Use general terms from your subtopics web as keywords to search in our research databases, and in the online Destiny Library Catalog to locate books in the library.
4. Evaluate Web Sources:Use the CRAAP Test (Currency, Relevance, Author, Accuracy, Purpose)
5. Read your sources carefully. Think about what you read (pencils down!), and select important information. Does it fit your research plan?
6. Take notes
7. Organize your notes . Turn your notes into an outline before writing a rough draft.
Cite your sources!