Research: Introduction

Effective research takes time and demands persistence. It also requires that you operate according to a plan. The sooner you begin to narrow your topic and locate relevant research materials, the faster the research essay materializes. The purpose of research is to discover evidence and information to support your thesis. Some of that information you will want to quote; most of it you will need to paraphrase or summarize. Practicing good research methods will save you time and frustration and help you get the most out of your research materials. Adopting good research practices will also help you to document your sources accurately and avoid inadvertently plagiarizing.