Research Process & Note-Taking

Steps to the Research Process

In order to produce an effective research paper, students should follow the steps to the research process.  These steps should look familiar because these are the same steps to the writing process you use in your language arts class, but with some research involved:

Planning: Select a topic, use print & online sources to research the topic & take notes to record the information keeping source information

Drafting: Write the first rough copy of the paper

Revising: Read through the paper to look for unclear statements and add more detail.  Have a teacher or friend review the paper as well for confusing areas

Editing: Check the paper for mistakes in spelling and grammar

Publishing/Presenting: Type the final copy to submit to your teacher and reflect on how the research process went.

Steps to the Note-Taking Process

Find your resource    
    ie. books, REF, online databases

Make sure it is a great resource
    Be able to answer at least three subtopic questions w/ notes in your own words
    Don’t record any notes yet

Cite your source
    Use works cited-MLA format in your agenda

Read for information
    Refer to questions on assignment paper or research packet
    Review subtopics on notes organize to search for answers
    Look in reference table of contents, index-site map, glossary, tables, etc.

Take notes to summarize information
    Use outline or bullet format (txt lang. is fine)
    Write in fragments- 3 to 5 of your own words