1. Planning Your Research Project
Ch. 30 Bedford guide for college writers

2. The Research Process pg. 627
Engage- Explore a topic that intrigues you, follow your assignment
Inquire- State your research question
Organize- Manage your project
Plan a method of recording information
Organize a research archive, and create a schedule
Investigate- Work with your sources
Start a working bibliography, and draw the details from sources
Quote, paraphrase, and summarize to capture information in your notes

3. The Research Process pg. 627
Search- Seek and evaluate reliable sources that might help you answer your question
Use the internet, library catalog, databases, and reference materials
Develop search strategies for print and electronic sources
Interview, observe, or conduct other field research
Analyze and evaluate the reliability and relevance of each source
Synthesize- Integrate reliable information and evidence to support your answer to your question.
Use sources ethically to avoid plagiarism
Quote, paraphrase, and synthesize to capture and integrate source materials.
Clarify the thesis that answers your question, and support it as you write your paper.
Cite and list your sources

4. Exploring your Territory
After you have chosen your topic, you begin to research what you want to say about your topic.
You can:
Go Online
Browse the Library
Talk with Experts
Revisit your Purpose and Audience
With each of these you can browse and narrow down specifically what you want to write about.

5. Using your Thesis to Guide Your Research
Identify terms to define and subtopics or components to explore
List or informally outline points you might develop
Note opposing views, alternatives, or solutions likely to emerge
Research Question
Search Engine
Specialized Websites
Relevant Pages
Online Resources
Links to Related sites
Library Catalog
Specialized Resources
Books
Journals
Other Library Materials
Database
Specialized Fields or Topics
Specific Articles
Specific Abstracts
Keyword Or Keyword Combination

6. Surveying Your Resources
Opinions or Controversies:
Turn to newspaper editorials, opinion columns, issue-oriented sites, and partisan groups for diverse views.
News and Analysis:
Look for stories from newsmagazines, newspapers, news services, and public broadcasting.
Statistics and Facts
Try census or other government data, library databases, annual fact books, and almanacs.

7. Surveying Your Resources
Professional Work Information:
Turn to reports and surveys with academic, government, and corporate sponsors to reduce bias.
Research-based Analysis:
Try scholarly or well-researched nonfiction, government reports, specialized references, and academic databases.
Original Records or Images:
Check archives, online historical records, and materials held by institutions such as the Library of Congress.

8. Managing Your Project Recording information
Don’t try to print everything and read everything because it will take way too long.
Instead, take notes, annotate, highlight, quote, paraphrase, and summarize.
Let’s take a look at page 239 in your text book:
Summary
Reduces the author’s main point to essentials, using your own words and sentences
Paraphrase
Captures an author’s specific ideas fully and accurately, restating them in your own words and sentences.

9. Managing Your Project Take notes Read as a skeptical critic
Save computer files
Add Favorites or Bookmarks
Save search results
Save file copies