Introducing the Research Process

One of the first tasks you’ll face as you write a research paper is choosing a topic. The topic is the ___________ of the paper.

• theme

• summary

• subject

• analysis

Select the steps for choosing a research topic:

• understand the writing assignment

• choose an idea

• narrow the topic

• watch tv

One strategy for narrowing a topic is to ask research questions.

• true

• false

Your teacher has assigned a research paper on volcanoes. Which of the following research questions will best help you focus your topic?

• Do volcanoes affect the world’s climate?

• How can a volcanic eruption lead to colder temperatures in tropical areas?

• Do volcanoes affect the ice layers at the North Pole?

• Which volcano had the most impact on climate change throughout the world?

The main types of sources used for writing a research paper are primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources

• provide firsthand accounts of an event or topic by someone who has direct experience with it.

• are original writings (or copies of original writings) that other research is based on.

Secondary sources

• provide secondhand accounts of a topic.

• describe, analyze, or summarize primary sources.

Select all of the different research sources

• books

• reference materials

• magazines/newspapers/journals

• websites

To evaluate a source, ask

• Who wrote the information?

• When was it written?

• What is the author's purpose?

• Is the information based on trustworthy sources?