If we knew what it was we were doing it would not be called research, would it? -- A. Einstein
DOING YOUR RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
There are a few basic steps you should keep in mind while doing academic research and producing a research essay (research paper) or an assignment requiring research.
1) Do general reading into the topic or subject.
An excellent starting point is an encyclopedia, print or on-line. The Dorset Library has a set of World Book encyclopedias that are useful. Many on-line encyclopedias exist. In an encyclopedia you will find a definition of a subject, important information about that subject, and often a list of recommended significant books and/or periodical articles for further reading.
2) Narrow your topic or subject.
It's possible that you will encounter a great amount of information on your topic. If your topic is 'alternative energy', try to break this topic down to more specific terms such as 'solar energy' or 'wind energy', etc. You may also limit your search by geography, or by timeframe; an example would be: 'wind energy in Canada in the past twenty years'.
Note: It is also possible that you will not encounter enough information on your topic. In that case you will have to try and expand or broaden your subject. If you cannot find anything on 'wind energy', try the broader topic -- 'alternative energy'.
3) Formulate a research question.
This is the question you are trying to answer when you do your research. For example, your research question might be: "What are the effects of genetically modified foods on human health?" Your research question will direct you in your search for information.
4) Find your sources:
Books
Authoritative books give reliable, in-depth knowledge of a subject.
Periodicals
For very recent information and a wide selection of information it is useful to go to articles in periodicals. Periodicals include newspapers, magazines, academic journals, etc. There are many online databases that provide full text articles, or brief summaries (abstracts) of articles.
Online resources
The Internet is a very accessible and searchable source of information. It is fast, effective, and anyone who has access to it may search for any kind of information. But not all the information to be found on the Internet is reliable. You must be prepared to evaluate the sources you have chosen for your research.
5) Evaluate your sources.
In order to evaluate your sources, you should ask yourself several questions. How current is the source? Some information is being constantly reviewed and updated, while other sources of information remain unchanged and valid for many years. How credible is the author? How credible is the publisher? If you want to use an electronic source, remember that anyone with access to the Internet can register a domain, publish a website or website document, and such a source may not be authoritative.
6) Incorporate source information into your paper.
There are three ways of incorporating source information into your own writing: 1) summarizing; 2) paraphrasing; 3) quoting.
Preventing plagiarism
plagiarism - 1. the verbatim copying or imitation of the language, ideas, or thoughts of another author and representing them as one’s own original work. 2. the material so appropriated. (-Ologies & -Isms. © 2008 The Gale Group)
In academic environment plagiarism is considered academic dishonesty or fraud. Students or professors accused in plagiarism are subject to academic censure with a possibility of expulsion in case of students. Professors may be suspended or terminated, and lose their credibility.
To avoid plagiarism you must always cite your sources in an approved documentation style. You may find out more about plagiarism on the University of Toronto website.
Documenting and citing
Documentation means acknowledging source material. If you use another person’s words or ideas in your paper, you must provide information about the sources of those words or ideas. There are many different formal systems of documentation. The two most widely used in academic settings are MLA and APA.
7) Present your research paper or research assignment.
After you complete your research, writing, documentation and citation work, it is time to turn to the presentation (format) of your paper. You should follow the exact formatting instructions given by your instructor. These instructions will likely include creating a title page, table of contents, providing page numbers. Do not forget to spell check your paper.