Step One
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Understand Your Assignment
- Read your assignment carefully before you start to ensure you understand the requirements.
- Note any specific deadlines for submitting your topic, sources, outlines, or drafts.
- Consult with your instructor if you have questions in these areas.
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Step Two
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Define Your Topic
- Write down your research question or topic.
- Note keywords and subject terms that can be used as search terms.
- Go to the Writing Center for help brainstorming, outlining, or talking through your topic ideas.
- Visit the Library’s Website for the best places to start with your research.
- Consult Library Databases for Topic Ideas (note that logging in is your student ID #):
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Step Three
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Investigate Your Topic
- Refine your topic and ask more specific questions to define your thesis statement.
- Are you on track?
- Consult with your instructor on the direction of your paper.
- Contact the Library for provide guidance on locating information and resources to help you refine your topic.
- Visit the Writing Center to refine your topic idea based on the research you’ve done and the assignment requirements.
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Step Four
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Retrieve Information on Your Topic
- Plan your search strategy.
- Search and choose sources.
- Use the Library Catalog and Databases to gather your information.
- Are you on track?
- Consult with your instructor on the direction of your paper.
- Visit the Library’s research assistance desk to provide guidance on locating information and resources to help you refine your topic.
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Step Five
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Read and Evaluate Information
- Keep track of your sources and record the citation information as you go.
- View the Citation and Documentation research guide.
- Evaluate the gathered information for your research:
- Have you found enough information on your topic?
- Does the information support your thesis?
- Have you answered the questions: What, Why, Where, When, How?
- Are you on track?
- Consult with your instructor on the direction of your paper.
- Visit the Library’s research assistance desk to provide guidance on locating information and resources to help you refine your topic.
- Work with a Writing Center tutor if you feel like you want to make sure you’re still on track.
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Step Six
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Create Your Outline
- Organize your ideas.
- Organize your notes.
- Outline the format of your paper.
- Visit the Writing Center’s resource page for helpful tips and additional resources for outlining.
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Step Seven
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Write the First Draft
- Writing Center tutors are available to help you get started or work through writer’s block. They also have helpful online resources, too!
- The learning specialists in the Academic Support Center are also available to assist you with quick writing questions on a walk-in basis. For more information, please call (508) 588-9100 x1975 or visit theirwebsite.
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Step Eight
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Conduct Additional Research as Necessary
- Reread your assignment.
- Keep looking for more resources that support your thesis or argument.
- Are you on track?
- Consult with your instructor on the direction of your paper.
- Contact a Librarian for guidance on locating information and resources to help you refine your topic.
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Step Nine
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Revise and Rewrite: Second Draft
- Complete bibliography.
- View the Citation Style Guide.
- The Writing Center’s website has links and presentations to help you with revision and citation styles.
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Step Ten
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Proofread Your Paper
- Look for spelling and grammatical errors.
- Does your paper fulfill the assignment requirements?
- The Writing Center can help you learn proofreading strategies, and you can visit their online resources for additional help.
- Final review.
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Step Eleven
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Final Draft
Write the final draft of your paper.
The Writing Center can be an extra pair of eyes to be sure that you’ve fulfilled the assignment requirements.
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Step Twelve
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Assignment Due Date
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