Mrs. Adams
Seek Knowledge
Strong research is more than collecting information. It means searching with purpose, evaluating evidence carefully, and organizing ideas so that meaningful patterns can emerge.
The goal is not to find the largest number of sources. The goal is to find the most useful evidence for understanding your issue, evaluating perspectives, and building a well-reasoned argument.
Ask a question worth investigating.
Move from a broad topic to a focused, researchable question that invites analysis, evidence, and multiple perspectives.
Search with purpose.
Use focused keywords, databases, and strategic search methods to locate credible and relevant information.
Look beyond the surface.
Examine credibility, relevance, evidence, limitations, bias, and the context in which a source was created.
Build the conversation.
Record key ideas, track source information, and organize evidence so that connections and tensions become visible.
Plan keywords, related terms, search combinations, and databases.
Download PDF →Use these free tools to locate scholarly and open-access sources.
Do not keep a source simply because it mentions your topic. Ask what the source contributes to your understanding and whether it earns a place in the conversation.