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Step by Step: Details of the Research Process

General

We cite sources to acknowledge the work of others, as well as to avoid academic dishonesty, or plagarism.  There are various formats for citing sources and your instructor will tell you which to follow.

Hints

Use these links to learn more about plagarism and copyright.

Bibliographic Management

There are many programs that allow you to organize references and create bibliographies. Listed below are some of the most commonly used on campus.

Text Version of Research Flowchart

  1. Select Topic
    1. Do Background Reading
    2. Narrow/Broaden Search
    3. Create Thesis Statement
  2. Develop Search Strategy
    1. Create list of keywords
    2. List questions to be answered
    3. Write a draft outline
  3. Gather Materials
    1. Books
    2. Articles
    3. Web Sites
  4. Evaluate Resources
    1. Currency
    2. Reliabitliy
    3. Authority
    4. Accuracy
    5. Point of View
  5. Read, Write, Edit: Organize Your Thoughts
    1. Think about what you've read
    2. Synthesize the information
    3. Write Your Paper
  6. Revise/Rewrite if necessary
Last Updated: Jun 12, 2024 4:57 PM