Research Lab for First Year Research

Your professor has established a schedule of assignments in your syllabus that will help you make progress toward your research and writing goals this semester. However, you will need to complete many small tasks along the way in order to turn in these assignments. As an independent researcher, you must be accountable to yourself. Set deadlines for your work here.

Understand Assignment:

5. Identify Topic/Scope Requirements
5. Understand MLA Documentation Requirements
5. Identify Research Requirements

Topic Development:

• Background Research with Legitimate Sources
• Define Research Questions
• Brainstorm and Identify Main Arguments

• Identify Types of Legitimate Sources to Support Argument

• Design Search strategy, including keywords, search tools, etc

Find Supporting Evidence:

• Implement Initial Searching Planned for in Topic Development

• Create Outline with Initial Research

• Review Research, Identify Gaps
• Revise Search strategy, including keywords, search tools, etc
• Implement New Search to Address Gaps
• Repeat as Needed

Write First Draft

• Read, Take Notes, and Compare Evidence Found in Legitimate Sources

• Define Thesis Statement
• Write Draft

Revise First Draft

• Read for Major Revision (Progression of argument, Claims based on evidence, Paper organization, Etc)

• Identify Additional Sources if Necessary

• Revise and Rewrite

Finalize Paper

• Edit for Minor Errors (typos, clarify topic/transition sentences, formatting)

• Review References (In-text citations, Reference List)

AND TURN IT IN!!!!!