WRT 003: Composition and Literature I for International Students

Please use the links below to find translations of library vocabulary terms in multiple languages.

Research can be fun and exciting as you expand your knowledge and learn new things, but it can also be frustrating and messy. The Research Process is a way to manage your research so that it does not overwhelm you. Important points to remember are:

• The research process is iterative, not linear! For example, as you progress in your research, your topic may change or narrow in scope.
• Writing is a part of the process and is usually the deliverable, but it is also an important tool to use when brainstorming a topic and when synthesizing the resources you have found.

Brainstorming keywords and concepts related to your topic can be helpful.  Consider using University of Arizona's free mind mapping tool linked below.

Sources are created with specific purposes in mind. For example, reference material has been created to provide basic facts and overviews of topics. Think about what your research need is and then search for the type of resource that would have been created to fill that need.

Information Timeline Graphic by adstarkel. Used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

When an event first happens, there is not a lot of information about it because information takes time to create. As your event recedes into the past, there has been time for more accurate and in-depth information to have been created. If you are not finding information on your event, consider where your event is in this timeline. Has there been enough time for a scholarly article to have been written about your event?