The Research Process

Here are the individual steps of the research process as we will complete or have completed in our English courses. I have created the following table to show when each assignment is due for each grade level. The due dates are school-wide and, therefore, cannot be extended for any student.

Where are we now?	Assignment	Associated Question	English IIIs %	English IVs Ö
	Topic Approval	What kind of projects can my research prepare me for?	2/5	1/30
	Honor Code and Forms	Where can I find these forms?	1/31	1/24
	Annotated Bibliography	How do I create an annotation? How do I MLA-format my bibliography?	2/19 REVISED: 2/26 Sample Works Cited	2/12 REVISED: 2/24 Sample Works Cited
	Notecards	Where do I find sources? How do I take notes?	(30) 2/28	(50) 2/7
%	Outline and Thesis	How do I create an outline? How do I MLA-format my outline? How do I write a hook and thesis?	3/12	2/14  REVISED: 2/24
Ö	First Draft	How do I take an outline and turn it into a paper? How do I MLA-format a research paper?	3/27	3/3
	Second Draft	What editing techniques should I practice in between drafts?	--	--
	Final Draft	What are some common writing errors?	4/30	4/2

To access your CCS Google Drive, click this link and sign in with your NCWise number and Birthday password.

• Here are a few other resources to find more information about the research process:
• from Cornell University
• from the University of Illinois
• from The Mildred F. Sawyer Library
• from an online video course on writing

Another step by step guide of how to do research after the jump!

from www.crlsresearchguide.org:

Basic Steps in the Research Process

This list of steps is a guideline for you to use. Not everyone will do these steps in the same order and you may go back and forth between them.

Click on the colored words to learn how to do that step.

1. Select a general topic that interests you in some way.

2. List key words to help you look up information about the topic.

3. Go to an encyclopedia, or other reference source, to get an overview of the topic.

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

5. Using the general overview, begin to focus the topic into something you can cover well.

6. Write a statement of purpose about the focused topic.

7. Brainstorm questions about the focused topic.

8. Group questions under similar headings.

9. Add any new questions you can think of under those headings.

10. Repeat step 2, listing more key words from your newly focused topic and questions.

11. Make a list of possible sources that can answer your questions. Identify the best sources to use.

12. Find the sources in the library, on the computer, etc. Make a source card for each one you use.

13. Begin making notecards. Use your brain stormed questions to guide your note taking.

14. Change your statement of purpose into a draft thesis statement.

15. Make an outline of your headings. If you are ready to print your outline, click  here

16. Refocus your thesis statement if necessary.

17. Write the body of your paper from your notes.

18. Cite any necessary information with parenthetical citations.

19. Write your introduction and conclusion.

20. Write your Works Cited (it is similar to a bibliography).

21. Create a title page.

22. Evaluate your work.

23. Turn in your paper on time.

When you're finished, celebrate!

Copyright © 2004 Holly Samuels All Rights Reserved