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Prepare

Prepare:  How do I choose a topic and find keywords?

Starting early on your assignment will lead to a better paper. In the early stages you will want to re-read the assignment and understand the expectations. You may even find it helpful to visit the Writers Workshop or the Undergraduate Library Research Desk to get your project started in the right direction. This can help you save lots of time in the long run. Writing about something you are very interested in will help morivate you to complete your assignment. You may notice the topic you pick has a special vocabulary.  Becoming familiar with this vocabulary will help you search for information.

This step helps you identify the vocabulary, providing some strategies for effective brainstorming, and tools for completion of your paper.

• Closely examine your assignment.
• Choose a preliminary topic.
• Build a search strategy.  Write some questions to be answered about your topic as you begin your research and brainstorm keywords based on your topic and questions.
• Gather background information to help clarify your understanding of the topic.  Background sources will provide terminology, names, dates, events, and keywords associated with your topic.
• Use a concept map, research log, or similar tool to help visualize your topic.
• Use the Assignment Calculator to determine a realistic timeline for completing your paper/project.

For comments on this page contact: Undergraduate Library

Last modified by: Susan Avery on 5/6/09