Step 1: Deconstruct Your Assignments
Step 2: Identify and develop your topic
Step 3: Explore Background Information
Step 6: Read and Evaluate the information you found
Step 4: Develop Your Search Strategy
Step 5: Manage & Organize Your Gathered Information
• Manage and organize all your gathered information: It allows you to know where you've been, where you are, and where you're going on the research journey. • Use a research management tool such as Zotero, EndNote (or EndNote Basic), Mendeley to help you stay organized, take notes, and cite your literature review.
• Brainstorm • Class Readings/ Discussions • Credible topics/news/magazine Websites- BBC Science, Chemistry World, NPR Science, Scientific American, The Guardian-science, etc.
• What are you going to research? • What are your information requirements? (Consider the type, quantity, and format when choosing a database) • What kind of assignment do you have to complete? • What types of publications do you want to read? (books, newspaper, journal, consumer magazine, government document, or primary sources..)
• Read your sources and take notes • Keep track of what you are finding • Reference your topic and search terms • Revise/refine your search necessary
• What to look for? • What are Keywords and Subject Terms? • Use EBSCO databases- News & Magazines • Review Articles: current research trends, research gaps, future research needs, etc.. • Google, Wikipedia, etc.
• Identify your assignments and create a checklist including types of projects, due dates, source requirements, citation styles, length of projects, etc. • Take research notes: using Google Docs, Evernote, Zotero, etc..
