RESEARCH is "the systematic investigation into, and study of, materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions" (Oxford Dictionary). When you do research, you are joining a larger conversation about your topic that could span decades or even centuries. You are adding your voice to that conversation in your own unique way.
Review general background information on your topic before you decide on the specific focus.
Look for a research-starter in the Camosun library databases.
Make a plan for tracking your sources.
Seek help for proper citation and document formatting.
Understand that it may be difficult to find peer-reviewed articles for topics that are very new.
How do you plan out and prepare your research?
What types of sources do you need (peer-reviewed articles, web resources, case studies)?
How do you evaluate your sources (do you use the CRAAP test)?
Where can you go to find credible sources of information?
What specifically do you have to say about your topic: why is it interesting or important?
Selecting your topic.
Doing some background research.
Refining your topic.
Locating sources and evaluating them.
Writing the paper.
Documenting your sources.
Define and develop your topic.
Hopefully, you're interested in the topic or there's some aspect of the assigned topic you can focus on.
Refine your topic by turning it into a question that can be answered or into a statement that can be supported.
Locate credible sources to support your statement or answer your question.
Your Camosun libraries have many resources to help you succeed:
Get help in person and online; you can access all these resources from home.
Evaluate your sources.
Document every source.
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