Web links to get you started
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How to Write a Research paperThis handout provides detailed information about how to write research papers including discussing research papers as a genre, choosing topics, and finding sources.
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Choosing a topicGuide to Writing a Basic Essay
Choosing a Topic
Using the sources below can sometimes be a good place to start if you are unsure of what exactly you are going to discuss in your research paper. For instance, for your assignment, you are looking for information about adversity, social issues, and resilience.
Maybe you are thinking about mothers and how they can affect their children's lives.
What kind of information would you need to find? You might start looking at Pew Research Center where they generate research reports and articles about many social issues. Head to Pew Research through the link below and search in their search tool for mothers. I found an article titled "6 facts about U.S. moms". https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/08/facts-about-u-s-mothers/
One statistic stood out for me: "While most U.S. mothers are married (68%), nearly one-quarter (24%) are solo moms." What could you infer from this statistic? Single motherhood is very prevalent in the U.S. and many children grow up without fathers in their lives. What does that do to children?
This is just one example of how to use the sources below to start your thinking about your topic.
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Google NewsGoogle collects up-to-the-minute news links from around the Web and categorizes them. You can look at articles about the World, U.S., Business, Sci-Tech, Entertainment, Sports, Health and more. Browse to find ideas.
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NPR Research NewsResearch news for lay people.
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Pew Research CenterPew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research.
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GallupGallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.
Research
Use this guide to help you get started in the research process. Use the links located at the side of this page as well as the tab tops at the top. There is also a quick search bar lcoated in the top right hand corner of the guide. You can search using the drop down menu the library catalog or the databases.
Step 1 is creating your topic or research question!
Citation and editing
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Research and Citation ResourcesThese OWL resources will help you conduct research using primary source methods, such as interviews and observations, and secondary source methods, such as books, journals, and the Internet. This area also includes materials on evaluating research sources.