Worksheet
Step 1 –What is your general idea for your research paper?
Step 2 – Focus your topic
WHAT?
Which aspects of this topic most interest you? Which aspects are you thinking of writing about?
WHY?
Why is your topic important? Why are you writing about it? How does your topic relate to existing scholarship?
WHO?
Who are the people/groups/major players that are involved with your topic? Be specific.
WHEN?
Is there a specific period of time or era you are interested in?
WHERE?
Where do these events occur or where is the issue relevant? (e.g. the United States, Pennsylvania, schools, etc.).
Step 3 - Develop a research question
What specific question do you want to answer with your research?
Other questions to consider
Brainstorm various specific aspects of your topic that you might explore further. List at least 3 ideas, and think of various synonyms or related terms for each concept that you can use as search terms (e.g., Islam or Muslim; women or girls or females). As you search in the catalog and databases, note other relevant terms that show up in titles, abstracts, or keyword/subject/descriptor lists.
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Step 4 – Researching your topic
What CLASS READINGS might relate to your topic? Check their bibliographies for potential sources.
Which library RESEARCH GUIDES will be useful for researching your topic?
Which library DATABASES will be useful for researching your topic?
Primary Sources (diaries, letters, photographs, artistic works, etc. created during the time period you are researching) – What kind might be available? Where might you find them?
