The Inez Clemmer Library
@ Ocoee Middle School
The Research Process
Step 1: Find your Topic
All research starts with a bright idea! Start the brainstorming process by visiting some of the sites listed below to help you come up with at least 2 or 3 potential topics!
Remember! Your topic should meet the following criteria:
- It must be arguable, which means your topic needs to have more than one point of view.
- It needs to be defensible, which means you need to be able to support your topic statement with evidence.
Step 2: Gathering Evidence into your OUTLINE
Now that you have narrowed down your 2 or 3 ideas to 1 thesis statement, you want to begin by organizing your thoughts, EVIDENCE, and supporting statements into an outline or graphic organizer.
It is important that you remember your focus during this process. Every piece of information or evidence that you find needs to be something that supports your THESIS STATEMENT or topic. Think of yourselves as a detective searching for clues or evidence to support your goal.
Your goal during this whole process is to get the readers of your paper to entertain, agree with, or further understand why your thesis statement or topic is right!
Step 3: Let the Writing BEGIN!
If you have done a good job on Step 2, Step 3 is the easiest part of the entire process!!
All that is left to do is tie your ideas together with transitional words, phrases, and ideas.
It is VERY important that you remember not to include words like: I, my, or me. Always refer to the sources, evidences and ideas you found from reliable sources that support your main idea, or thesis statement.