Steps to a great research project

Research Basics

In the beginning...

You have to start somewhere

Steps

Topic

1. Select a general topic

• List key words to help you look up that topic

• Go to an encyclopedia or other reference source to get an overview of the topic

Source Card

For a book:

Schlessinger, Arthur M.Queen VictoriaChicago: Bullet Publishers, 2009

TAHMS Library

place of publication

location of source

author

publisher

book title

1

2. Make source cards for whatever sources you will use for information

Source Card

Or citation style:

"Victoria." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2010  <http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9108774>.

article urldate accessed

book/encyclopedia title

publisher

article title 1

Notecards

Will follow your source card and be numbered the same way

Ex. All of your notecards from source 1 will also be numbered 1 in the upper right-hand corner

Notecards

Q

Princess Victoria became Queen of Great Britian at the age of 18 (note that Great Britain includes Ireland) and ruled for 63 years and 7 months, longer than any other British monarch.

1

Topic, continued3.Using the general overview, focus the topic into

something you can cover well

• Write a statement of purpose about the focused topic

• Brainstorm questions about the focused topic (KWL strategy)

• Group questions under similar headings

Refine topic, begin search

4.Make a list of possible sources. Identify the best sources to use

• Locate your sources; make a source card for each one you choose to use

5.Begin making notecards (write the source number in the upper right hand corner). Use brainstormed questions to guide note-taking

Source Card

Or citation style:

"Victoria." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2010  <http://school.eb.com/eb/article-9108774>.

article urldate accessed

book/encyclopedia title

publisher

article title 1

Notecards

Q

Princess Victoria became Queen of Great Britian at the age of 18 (note that Great Britain includes Ireland) and ruled for 63 years and 7 months, longer than any other British monarch.

1number matches source card

Thesis

6.Change your statement of purpose to a draft thesis statement

Remember: a thesis statement is one that can be proven with evidence. It is not a simple statement of fact. A thesis statement should be the product of your own critical thinking after you have done some research.

Outline

7.Make an outline from your headings

TitleI. Introduction

A. Background B. Thesis Statement

II. HeadingA. Answer to question

1. Supporting Evidence2. Supporting Evidence

B. Answer to question1. Supporting Evidence 2. Supporting Evidence

III. Conclusion

Mindmap

Queen Victoria

Early Life

Monarchy

Last Years

Born May 24, 1819

“I will be good” (2012)

Image CitationsVictoria. Photograph. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. <http://school.eb.com/eb/art-76076>.Victoria: coronation. Photograph. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. <http://school.eb.com/eb/art-100553>.

Prince Albert is main advisor in

all things

Supported repeal of corn laws, but

repressed those in favor of social change in

Britain

South African War

(1899-1902) dominates her

final years

Write and Cite

7.Write the body of your paper using your notes and outline (or mind map, etc.)

8.Cite any necessary information with parenthetical citations

“Queen Victoria is arguably the greatest monarch in all of British history” (Smith 152)

Works Cited

9.Create a Works Cited page, like mine below

Works Cited

Samuels, Holly . "Basic Steps to Creating a Research Paper." Cambridge Rindge & Latin School N.p., Nov. 2009. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.

SourcesEncyclopedia (print or electronic)

Periodical (magazine or newspaper, print or electronic)

Specialized book (print or electronic)

Website (custom search ONLY)

Scholarly journal (electronic)

Primary source (electronic)

Primary Source??Definition: A primary source is a document or other sort of evidence written or created during the time under study, or by one of the persons or organizations directly involved in the event. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types are:

Original Documents

• Diaries• Speeches• Letters• Minutes• Interviews• News film footage• Autobiographies• Official records

A primary source is one from which you draw your own conclusions toward your thesis. If analysis is done for you it is NOT a primary source!