So you have a project that has been assigned and you don't know where to start.  The first thing you must do in order to produce good research is come up with an idea, and a focus for that idea.  There are many techniques for doing this.  You could make a mind map, free associate like in the writing prompts, make a list, or more. 

To start, come up with a topic.  If the topic has already been assigned to you, start with that topic.  For the sake of learning, imagine you've been assigned to wr...
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An annotated bibliography can be an enormously helpful tool when performing research for a major project.  During the preliminary research phase, it can be helpful to create an annotated bibliography so you can see where you are going with your research and so others can follow as well.  Endnote, Zotero and other bibliography programs can help you in this regard.  Here, I will show you how to create an annotated bibliography using a document program.

First, you will search, at the library webs...
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An important step in beginning research is to conduct a survey of the materials available.  By formulating a preliminary bibliography before beginning work on a research project, you can help kick-start your project.  The first step in constructing a working bibliography is to consult an encyclopedia.  Now, an encyclopedia is not a valid source in itself.  It can provide you with a general overview of a topic, and subtopics you should be familiar with.  The most useful part of using the encyc...
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An annotated outline is an important part of the pre-writing and research process. The annotated outline can help you to see your arguments played out and how different parts of the paper will relate to one another.  This helps to make your writing a cohesive whole. 

Write the annotated outline only after you have conducted preliminary research.  If you begin writing it before you have compiled any research you will not know enough about your topic or the direction of your paper to properly o...
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As promised, today I will discuss electronic note-taking methods. It is vital when taking notes to be accurate and organized with the information you record. The main benefits of using a computer for note-taking are that paper is conserved and searching is facilitated. Using a computer is also suggested when taking extensive notes for large research projects. Below are three methods for taking notes on research sources electronically. 

Using a Word Processor

1. Open a new document for each new so...

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It is vital, when writing, to document any material you used during the research phase.  Being able to document accurately quotations and paraphrases depends upon careful note taking methods. 

One method for taking notes on research material is with pen and index cards.  To do this, you first obtain an index card box, some dividers that correspond to the topics you will be covering, and index cards.  This can be done two ways.

The classic way to use index cards is to use one index card for eac...
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