English: Writing & Research in the Disciplines: Basic Research Process

1. Review the guidelines for your assignment.
2. Choose something that sparks your interest.
3. Talk with your instructor, library staff, peers, and people working in the field of study for ideas.
4. Conduct cursory research to determine what is currently relevant in the field of study.

A research question allows you to focus your research and create a thesis statement - as the answer to your question is your thesis statement!  

1.  Explore different questions related to your topic:

• Ask "how" and "why" questions about your general topic.
• Consider the importance of the topic.
• Identify one or two questions that can actually be explored through research.

 2.  Narrow your question with the following types of parameters (among others):

• time period (era, century, decade, year, etc.)
• population or demographic (gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, culture, etc.))
• region and/or country (USA, US South, NC, Southeastern NC, etc.)
• perspective (discipline, philosophy, ideology, etc.)

If you're still undecided, read about popular research topics on the following suggested sites:

1. Research Topics (Santa Monica College)
2. Hot Topics for Research Papers and Speeches (B.W. Owens Library)

• A thesis statement is a one or two sentence answer to your research question.
• To learn more about writing a thesis statement, visit the following link:
  • Creating a Thesis Statement (Purdue OWL)

Learn more about your topic to form a research question and (eventually) a thesis statement:

1. Generate search words to find background resources.
2. Consult reference resources - such as textbooks, encyclopedias, summaries, histories, etc.- for context information.
3. Read news and academic journal articles to learn more about your topic and pinpoint research gaps.
4. As your browsing, get a head start on the next phase of research.  Look for:
   1. potential research subtopics
   2. major works and key issues related to your topic
   3. key authors in your area of research

Test your topic in the Williamson Library's research databases and the library catalog to see if you can ACTUALLY FIND RESEARCH to answer your question. Then...:

1. Generate search terms for your research question.
2. Test those search terms in our library catalog:  Williamson Library Catalog.
3. Test those search terms in our research databases:  A-Z Database List.
4. Narrow your topic, as needed - add parameters.
5. Broaden your topic, as needed - subtract parameters.
6. Repeat 1-5, as needed.
7. SETTLE ON THE RESEARCH QUESTION.
8. RESEARCH YOUR QUESTION - FIND THE ANSWER!
9. WRITE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT - THE ANSWER!
10. PROVE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT- WRITE YOUR PAPER!