ENGL 102 - Inquiry-Based Research (Williamson)

Choosing a topic is the first and most important step of any research paper. This video from North Carolina State University helps outline this process.

Planning your search strategy before you start your research is a best practice. Why?

• It will save you time
• Your searching will be more structured
• Your search results will be more relevant

Planning ahead and using the proper search techniques will help you avoid the frustration that results from being overwhelmed with irrelevant results or from finding to few or no results. The time spent in preparation for your research will help you find relevant results more quickly.

Use the below worksheet from the librarians at the University of Illinois Springfield's Brookens Library as a guide to help create your search plan. Break your topic into it's key concepts, brainstorm alternative search terms, and identify the best databases for research on your topic.

Use this worksheet to help you identify concepts and key words to build successful searches.

• Allows flexibility and creativity
• Free flowing, visual representation of your ideas
• Can help narrow down your topic by focusing and developing a single branch from the broad topic
• Can be adapted and revised as you do more research

The video below was created by Penn State University Libraries to explain the process of concept mapping for a research paper.