6: The Research Process — Read

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Learning Outcomes

Understand a research paper assignment prompt
Choose, evaluate, and integrate sources from a wide variety of publications including academic journals
Narrow a research topic.
Use correct MLA format for essays and in-text citations.

6.1: The Ultimate Tool for Thinking and Sharing Our Thoughts
The process of writing a research paper allows us to explore and reflect on others' ideas on a topic in order to form our own.
6.2: Approaching a Research Paper Assignment
Dissecting the research paper prompt will help us envision the essay we are building.
6.3: Choosing a Focused Topic
Often, we start with a general area of interest and narrow the focus as we learn more through our research.
6.4: Find the Conversation That Interests You
When we research, we can look for a range of sources that make different kinds of contributions to the conversation; ultimately we will situate our own point within that conversation.
6.5: Types of Sources
Identifying the type of each source we come across in our research can help us determine its reliability.
6.6: Getting Familiar with Academic Journal Articles
If we know the purpose of the typical sections in academic journal articles, we can read or skim them more strategically.
6.7: Searching Databases of Academic Journal Articles
Campus library databases and Google Scholar provide us access to peer-reviewed journal articles.
6.8: Strategies for Each Phase of the Research Process
Choosing search terms carefully and brainstorming related words is key to finding out what others have said about our topic.
6.9: Creating an Annotated Bibliography
Creating an annotated bibliography helps you evaluate sources and strategize on how to use them in your research paper.
6.10: MLA Essay Format
Following the conventions of MLA essay formatting will boost your credibility as a writer.
6.11: MLA In-Text Citations
Follow MLA in-text citation format when you quote or paraphrase so readers can find your source.
6.12: MLA Works Cited Pages
At the end of an MLA paper, we need a formatted list of all the sources we have quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

A serious young woman wearing a headscarf, looking at a computer screen and typing at an outdoor table. — Image courtesy of Keira Burton from Pexels.com under the Pexels License.

This page titled 6: The Research Process was last modified on Tue, 13 May 2025 22:25:48 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Anna Mills.

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Learning Outcomes