AUP Library How to Organize Research

Library - How to Organize Research

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Getting organized is the first step!

Pick your topic. Keep a research log of your materials as you prepare your paper. Find scholarly articles, books and web sites on your topic and evaluate your sources. Keep accurate note of citations and make annotations of the articles, books and sites that you have chosen. Create an outline to help organize your thoughts. You can now begin writing your paper. Work on your final drafts and edit your material. Then you will have prepared a research paper.

What is a Research Log?

A Research Log is a kind of journal: it can be a paper folder or digital record documenting your efforts to find, evaluate and use information relevant to the courses you are taking at AUP.

Keeping a log will help you to apply a research strategy (an organized plan for seeking, gathering and documenting information) to your term papers and projects during the semester. Recording your results (books, articles, reviews, links, and so on) and keeping track of your search terms, sources, appointments and notes will save you time and repetition. It will come in handy when the time comes to assemble your documentation and to develop or edit a term paper, presentation, or other research project.

Developing a research strategy and keeping a log will make it easier for you to fulfill your educational objectives.

One way to keep a Research Log is to save papers, notes and references online or on a diskette. Some students may find it easier to simply print out references and citations adn insert them in a folder or binder. Other students prefer to use index cards. Feel free to use whatever method works best for you!

If you choose the online (computer files) option or diskettes, you should consider creating a folder or directory for each paper, project or course; in this way, you can keep information for one course separate from information for the others.

Drafts and Editing

Visit the Computer Lab and Writing Lab for practice with outline formatting. Let the professor, librarian, or lab assistants know if you need extra help with word-processing tasks. Be sure to indicate which software application you are using (Microsoft Word, for example), and whether you are working on a PC or on a Mac.

If you need more advanced technical help, such as setting up projectors for presentations, contact your professor. He or she can help you to determine what technology and media supports will be available. Try not to leave it until the last minute, though!

Although most of you will be typing your papers and project drafts on a computer, editing is often best accomplished by reading over a paper copy of your work and marking changes in red. After this, you can complete the editing online. Read and re-read your final product - it is very easy to overlook errors.

The Computer Lab has 'spell-checker' software on most workstations - this function checks your spelling in the language of your choice, and suggests alternatives if it detects errors - try it! It can be used for text documents, html (Web pages), PowerPoint presentations, and more. Ask if you cannot find it on your computer. Spell-checking will not always reveal grammatical errors, so do not rely upon it exclusively. If you are working on a group project, you might exchange documents with the other members for editing suggestions.

Check style and format. Complete notes and bibliography.

Watch out for inadvertent plagiarism - be sure to cite sources - even when paraphrasing!

Last, don't forget there is always help available.

How to Ask for Help

If you are having trouble with any of the assignments, quizzes, or exercises in your classes, do not hesitate to call on a reference librarian for help or to make an appointment with your professor or advisor.

How can I make an appointment with a librarian?

If you are in the Library, you may go to the Service Desk and ask to see a reference librarian, or you may request an appointment for a later date or time.

If you are outside the Library, but using a campus phone, call extension 561, or 557. From off-campus locations, simply call the University Library at 01.40.62.05.61 and ask to speak to a reference librarian, or contact the librarians by e-mail.