Research

Pathfinders

Every project is different, but the research part of each project always boils down to a few key concepts. If you train yourself to develop great habits in research early on, research and being an ethical user of information will become a breeze as you move on in education and life.

Lunsford uses The Modern Language Association (MLA) style guide which was created for academic writing. Part of the style guide deals with standardized ways to document the writer’s source materials. MLA provides guidelines for the creation of a “works cited” page and parenthetical or in-text citations.

As a writer and creator, you are required to give credit to sources you used in your writing and creations!

Six-Step Process

1. Define Task

  • Define the task

  • Brainstorm possible information sources 

2. Find Sources       

  • Print sources

  • Electronic sources

  • Other sources 

3. Evaluate Sources             

  • Judge

  • Critique

  • Verify 

4. Record Information  

  • Note-taking

  • Paraphrasing

  • Documenting 

 5. Synthesize Product

  • Organize, draft, revise

  • Cite Sources

  • Present Product 

6. Reflect on Learning  

  • Evaluate Process

  • Evaluate Product