This section presents a comprehensive outline for the research you do in the library and on the Web. You will need to adapt this outline for your own project. Depending on the scope of your research paper, you may choose to skip some of the steps and it's inevitable that some steps will prove to be more useful than others.

There are SEVEN steps for your research.

Moving From Keywords to A Subject Search

Reference Tools

Subject Trees

The Library Catalog

Search Engines

Indexes and Databases

Databases and Archives

To continue the section on Researching Your Topic,


1. Set up a general search strategy

2. Use primary and secondary sources

3. Do original research

4. Make a research outline for using the library and the Web

5. Find things out for yourself

6. Be open to serendipity

7. Take notes

8. Manage sources and quotations

9. Manage and evaluate electronic sources