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Faculty Guide to Erwin Library: Get Started on a Paper or Project

A New Assignment

I have a general topic in mind for my paper or project.  Now, what do I do?  

Use General Reference resources to:

  • Increase your knowledge of the main topic you've chosen
  • Identify good search terms to use later including:
    • Buzzwords
    • Jargon or internal language used by people in that field, discipline or profession
    • Important names, places, events, etc.

For Preliminary Research you may:

Once you have a more focused topic from your Preliminary Research, you will want to formulate a Thesis Statement, the concept on which you'll build the framework of your entire paper or project.  Try phrasing it as a question first!

General Reference Databases

General Reference Databases That are Great for Preliminary Research!

Allied Health:

Career and Testing:

General Reference:

History:

Literature:

Social Sciences:

Technology:

Identiry Your Topic and Explore It

What is Your Topic?

Your instructor may assign a topic for your assignment, or leave it up to you to find a topic.  Make sure you understand your instructor's expectations at the outset. 

First, read your Course Syllabus carefully, then ask questions if you are still in doubt.

Once you have a clear topic, read about it in brief articles or reference sources to help you:

  • Highlight and clarify issues surrounding the topic
  • Identify jargon, or "buzzwords," associated with those issues
  • Focus on useful keywords to try in subsequent searches 

See What an Academic Paper Looks Like!

What Does an Academic Paper Look Like?

  • These samples of academic papers listed below may help you understand how all the parts should fit together
  • Remember that the Citation Style your instructor assigns will affect the format of your final paper.

Formulate a Thesis Statement

Fix the Exact Purpose of your Paper or Project into one Simple Sentence. 

This way, you won't just ramble on for page after page, but make some point by the time you finish.  That simple sentence is called a Thesis Statement.

A strong Thesis Statement:

  • Takes some sort of stand
  • Justifies discussion
  • Expresses one main idea
  • Is specific

Indiana University Writing Tutorial Services (WTS). Web. 25 August 2015

Truth is, with this assignment your instructor will probably expect you to:

  • Create an argument
  • Take a position on an issue
  • Persuade others 

Any facts you find will feed into one or more of these objectives. 

For Example:  Start thinking about something more controversial and focused to discuss than "Corn is a good crop to grow." since:

  • "Good" is a vague word here, so you'll need to be more specific about the advantages
  • Then, who is corn good for exactly:  the grower, the man on the street, processed food manufacturers, farmers needing silage, alternative fuel producers?
  • Furthermore, is anyone going to object and why (like nutritionists, oil refiners)

Get rid of vagueness, and nip objections early on, in your Thesis Statement. 

Then go about to lay out the points of your argument, and support them with scholarly resources you've found.