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Study Skills Handout: How to Write a Research Paper
Step 2 -- Collecting Data

The handout below is just one of the many study skills handouts available through the Tutoring Center. If you are having trouble with study skills of any kind, or if you have questions about study skills that are not addressed here, stop in the Student Commons Building, Room 1300, at the Normal campus and talk to a tutor. He/she can provide additional handouts, help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses and help you formulate a plan to develop effective study strategies. To find out when tutors for various courses are available in Pontiac or Lincoln contact the receptionist in Pontiac (815-842-6777) or Lincoln (217-735-1731).

How to Write A Research Paper
A Guide for Tutors and Students

Heartland Community College Academic Support Center
Prepared by Carol Baker, Melissa Clark, Nancy Mazur and Ellen Vogel

Guidelines on How to Write a Research Paper are broken down into the following steps.

• Introduction
• Checklist: Scheduling Your Research Paper
• Step 1: Getting Started
• Step 2: Collecting Data
• Step 3: Taking Notes
• Step 4: Drafting the Paper
• Step 5: Revising the Paper
• Step 6: Preparing the Final Draft
• MLA
• APA

Step 2: Collecting Data

Locate sources

• Orient yourself to the library.
  Note: Use the Heartland library to begin your search.
• Research resources available at:
  1. Heartland Community College Library in the Academic Resource Center
  2. Milner Library on the Illinois State Campus
  3. Bloomington-Normal Community area libraries
• Take these items with you:
  1. A copy of your assignment
  2. A notebook
  3. Pens (pencils tend to blur when shuffled or handled)
  4. Index cards (4"x 6" for notes and 3"x 5" for bibliographic data)
  5. Dimes and quarters for the copying machine
  6. Paper clips and rubber bands to help organize cards and papers
• Do not be afraid to ask librarians for assistance. They are there to assist you in locating your sources. They can assist you in using library resources as well.
• Plan to spend at least 10-15 hours at a research library to:*
  1. Skim and evaluate materials.
  2. Re-read materials.
  3. Copy materials if necessary.
  4. Write bibliographic information.
  5. *Your instructor may assign the paper in shorter or longer forms.

Select sources with audience in mind. (See Step 3: Deciding on audience purpose and role of the writer.)

Search using a keyword or main word in a subject or heading.

• Consult the Library of Congress headings.
• Consult Primary Sources.
• Original works, firsthand reports, historical documents, and research data, pamphlets, booklets
• Letters and speeches
• Interviews with objective questions or surveys prepared ahead of time
• Consult Secondary Sources.

Computerized databases (See Heartland librarian for handouts for online research or assistance.) Note: Using these first could lead you to many primary sources.

• Infotrac SearchBank, FirstSearch, Illinet Online, IBIS-OVID, NewsBank InfoWeb, CQ Researcher, Brittanica Online, Stat USA, Project MUSE, and Internet and Online sources
• Reference Books
• Specialized encyclopedias

• Bibliographies and Biographies
• Almanacs, yearbooks, and atlases
• Book indexes and guides to reference books
• Indexes to Periodicals that are published at set periods during a year
• Magazines
• Scholarly Journals
• Newspapers
• Consider Outside Sources.
• Radio discussions, T.V. interviews
• Publications available by mail
• Experiments, surveys, observations
• Library catalogs that use call numbers to locate books
• Card file
• Microfilm
• Special collections
• Rare books and memorabilia
• Audio and video tapes
• Brochures and pamphlets
• Literary and art criticisms and reviews
• Historical analysis
• Select a variety of at least 10-15 sources.

• Photocopy reference materials that cannot be checked out.
• Include general citation information.
• Include specific information needed for your documentation system.

Evaluate sources considering audience. (See Step 3: Audience and Purpose.)

Note: Please refer to the Evaluating your Sources Questionnaire handout.

Use relevant information that will to help you choose a source that is worthy of:

• Further reading
• In-depth note-taking

Analyze each source by asking such questions as:

• Does the source appear in several bibliographies? If so, it is probably recognized as an authority and is likely to be reliable.
• Is this source too elementary, technical, advanced or just right?
• What is the credibility of the author’s expertise?
• Qualifications?
• Job title?
• Research background?
• Publications?
• Does the publisher have an academically reliable reputation?
• Is the information relevant, accurate, and well-supported?
• Is the evidence trustworthy to back up claims?
• Is the source current and up-to-date?
• Is the source a scholarly, popular, or sensational publication?
• Is this publication specialized or general?
• What is the tone: logical or passionate?
• What perspective or point of view does the author bring to the subject?
  • Political
  • Social
  • Economic, etc.
• Can any bias or perspective be inferred?
• Is the information well-organized and clearly stated?
• How well does the source answer the research question?
• Are there a variety of sources such as:
  • Books
  • Periodicals
  • Computer databases
  • Special collections
• Decide which sources you will use for your annotated bibliography.

• Use 3"x 5" note cards.
• Use one note card for each source.
• Include all appropriate citation information on each card in the format required by your instructor.
• Include the call number which indicates the location of the source if applicable.
• Include a brief note on the contents of the source.
• Put cards in alphabetical order.
• Use these cards to help:
• Organize your annotated bibliography.
• Create a Works Cited or Reference page later on.
• Help you find a source in case you need to find it again.

• May vary from instructor to instructor; follow the directions!
• Type or write out annotated bibliography on typing or writing paper.
• Include a citation for each source in appropriate documentation style (including call number).
• Include a brief summary for each source to establish credibility:
• A summary of what you like or dislike about the source.
• Kinds of information from the source
• The forum of the source.
• Evaluations or critiques of the source’s organization and timeliness.
• Evaluations of the credibility or degree of trust in the author.
• Comments on the intended audience.
• Comparisons or contrasts with another source you have cited.
• Ways that the information can be used in the project or paper.
• Ratings of its usefulness to the project or paper.
• Select the sources that you will use to write your paper.
• Keep the sources not selected and list alphabetically for possible use later.

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