Created by the Evergreen Writing Center
A Research Strategy Step 1: Brainstorm Pick a topic, or use the topic assigned in class, and brainstorm lists of related keywords. Do this Week 1. Example: Research an application of a field in biology. Brainstorm of fields: molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, ecology, zoology, Brainstorm of applications in microbiology: food, medicine, environmental, pathological, genetic Step 2: Preliminary library research Using your topic as a keyword, search the library’s databases for general information. Take notes on interesting facts and possibly useful resources. Use secondary sources, like textbooks and newspapers, to learn more about your topic. Finish this during Week 2. Step 3: Free-write Jot down everything you already know, have thoughts or ideas about, or want to know about your topic. Write unrestrainedly, but re-read what you’ve written and pick out key words, ideas and question that comprise subtopics. Finish this Week 2. Example: Food--sterilization, nutrient cycles, bacterially produced foods, pathenogens, industry, Step 4: Focused research Using your topic and the subtopics as keywords, take a deeper look at the sources that seemed most promising. If you have found books on these topics, skim them. Answer questions that came up in the free-write. Keep organized notes, either on cards or in a notebook. Make sure to collect the information from each source that you will need to cite that source, whether you end up using it or not. This can be done throughout Week 3. If the topic and subtopics are still too broad, repeat steps 1-4. Step 5: Outline Create a working outline based on your notes from this research. This outline can be revised as you answer more of your questions and narrow your topic even more. Remember that this is a process, and anything you start with can be changed. You should have a working outline by Week 4. See the example below. Step 6: Major Research Use the topics in the outline as keywords and organize your notes around the outline. Writing facts on note-cards allows you to physically move and cluster evidence under ideas. Continue to make revisions to your outline as necessary. This can be carried out through Weeks 5 and 6.
Working outline I. II.
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Introduction~ an overview of the paper History of Microbiology and food a. Pre-history b. Major events Current industries a. Food processing 1. Alcohol 2. Bread 3. Yoghurt b. Food sterilization 1. Canning 2. Asceptic technique c. Pathogens in Food 1. Meat industry 2. Fruit and Vegetable contamination 3. Prevention Future of food microb. Conclusion~ Wrap it all up
Revised outline I. II.
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IV. V.
Introduction~ an overview of the paper~ use statistic to hook readers History of Microbiology and food a. Pre-history b. Major events c. Important scientists/ contributors i. Pasteur ii. Napoleon Current industries a. Food processing i. Alcohol ii. Dairy iii. Miscellaneous 1. meats 2. pickles 3. tea/coffee b. Food sterilization i. Sterilization ii. Pasteurization iii. Sanitization c. Pathogens in Food i. Meat industry ii. Fruit and Vegetable contamination iii. Prevention Cutting edge research a. New technology for processed foods Conclusion~ Wrap it all up
Step 7: Writing the Paper Using the most current outline, write a rough draft of the introduction and conclusion, topics sentences for the paragraphs, and transitions between paragraphs. This provides the framework for the paper. Then add, using your own words, the facts that fit under each topic sentence. This fleshes out the paper. Spend week 7 writing up the draft.
Step 8: Revise Re-read the paper, checking for consistency, logical flow of ideas, sufficient supporting evidence, and correct formatting, citation and grammar. Remember that the process is still flexible, and you can add or delete entire paragraphs, move sections, or do more research if support is lacking in areas. This can be done during weeks 8 and 9 on a schedule where the paper is due week 10.