English: Getting Started

Find a topic

• Look at background material for ideas
  • google
  • wikipedia
• Think of different aspects of the topic
  • sub-topics
• Use references and subject terms to get new ideas
• Use synonyms when researching
  • child, youth, students, child-like

Develop a thesis statement

• This may change as you do your research

Keep track of your resources

• Use citation tools, but double-check for accuracy
• Do this from the very beginning
• Citing all sources will help avoid unintentional plagiarism

http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-journal

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

or, ask a librarian

Use research guide to find scholarly resources

• Academic Search Premier
  • experiment with search terms and keywords
  • look at subject headings
  • use limiters in search
    • full-text
    • date
    • peer-reviewed
• Encyclopedias, Atlas, Dictionaries
  • online with Credo Reference or Reference Universe
  • print versions in the library (call number 200)
• Books
  • online with Ebsco ebooks
  • print

Write your paper!