Honolulu Community College Library

This page will help you get started on your research paper.

It is based on these books:

Baugh, L. Sue. How to Write Term Papers and Reports.
  call number: LB2369 .B38 1992

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed.
  call number: LB2369 .G53 1999b

For other books, check the subject Report writing in the Hawaii Voyager Web online catalog.

If you would like a printed copy of this information, ask your librarian for Pathfinder 2.

Step 1. Choose a topic.

A topic should ...

• interest you!
• provide you with an opportunity to explore, do original thinking, and make judgments.
• meet your instructor's requirements.
• have information that is readily available.

Avoid topics which are ...

• limited in information available, because the topic is too new or specialized.
• extremely controversial.
• overworked -- many, many other students have already written about the topic, or are writing about it now.

Trying to select a topic? This book may be helpful:

Lamm, Kathryn. 10,000 Ideas for Term Papers, Projects, and Reports
  call number: LB1047.3 .L35 1991 (held at the Reference Desk)

Step 2. Narrow your topic.

What will you focus on?

Many topics are too broad at first. Decide which part of the topic interests you most. For example, the broad topic of VIOLENCE could be narrowed to:

   child abuse     spouse abuse        violence on television
   gun control     school violence     gangs                    etc.

Each of these sub-topics could also be narrowed further.

In narrowing your topic, it may be helpful to check the headings for the topic in . . .

• general encyclopedias
• the Library of Congress Subject Headings ("the Big Red Books", kept near the online catalog computers)
• computer catalogs and databases
• InfoTrac, EBSCOHost, and other periodical indexes
• the index and table of contents of books

Step 3. Do preliminary research.

Read articles in ...

• general encyclopedias
• magazines
• newspapers (check the Clipping File on the first floor of HCC Library)

• You may also refer to Web sites about your topic.

Preliminary research will help you to narrow and refine your topic further.

Step 4. Write a thesis statement.

A thesis statement provides direction to your research.
Think about . . .

• What is the main idea of your paper?
• What will you describe or prove?

Step 5. Find words for your topic.

What terms will you look up? Make a list of keywords related to your topic.
Consult these sources for ideas for keywords, and for authorized subject headings:

• Library of Congress Subject Headings
• indexes of books and encyclopedias
• InfoTrac, EBSCOHost, and other periodical indexes
• people, organizations, events, places, and dates associated with your topic

• General Encyclopedias

  for overview information
  

  example: Encyclopedia Americana

  • General encyclopedias are found in the call letters AE of the Reference Collection, on the first floor of HCC Library
  • Start with the index (usually the last volume of the set).
  • Read articles for background information.
  • Note important names, dates, organizations, events, and issues.

• Subject Encyclopedias

  for more specialized information
  

  example: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology

  • Subject encyclopedias are classified by subject in the Reference Collection.
  • Start with the index.
  • Read articles that provide more detailed information about your topic.

• Other Reference Sources

  Depending on your topic, consult:
  • Almanacs
    example: World Almanac and Book of Facts
  • Biographical Dictionaries
    example: Current Biography
  • Statistical Information
    example: Statistical Abstract of the United States
  • Yearbooks
    example: World Book Year Book
  • Atlases & Gazetteers
    example: Times Atlas of the World
  • Handbooks
    example: Political Handbook of the World

• Computer Databases: Indexes to Magazines and Newspapers

  for supportive and specialized information, especially on current topics
  • InfoTrac -- online index to magazines, with full-text of many articles

  • EBSCOHost -- online index to magazines and journals, with full-text of some articles

  • Hawaii Newspaper Index -- online index of articles in the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin

  • SIRS Knowledge Source -- online database of articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers
  • CQ Researcher -- online collection of in-depth articles about current and controversial issues
  • Web sites about a topic can be found with Internet search engines

• Print Indexes to Magazines, Newspapers, and Journals

  for supportive and specialized information
  Print index volumes are kept on the first floor of HCC Library, and are primarily for back issues of periodicals.
  • Index to the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin
  • New York Times Index
  • Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature -- to U.S. magazines
  • NewsBank
  HCC Library also maintains a Clipping File of Hawaii news articles, primarily from the Honolulu Advertiser.

• Online Catalogs and Books

  for comprehensive and historical information
  • Consult the Hawaii Voyager online catalog for books at HCC Library and other University of Hawaii libraries.
  • Browse the second floor shelves in your topic area.
  • Connect to catalogs of other University of Hawaii libraries with Hawaii Voyager WebPAC, or the Hawaii State Public Libraries if more information is needed.

  ---

  Keep track of the sources you use!

  You will need to cite your research sources and/or prepare a bibliography. Remember: give credit where credit is due. Ask your instructor which style of bibliography to use. Styles differ, but the necessary information often includes:

  • author(s)
  • article title
  • publication title
  • place of publication
  • publication date
  • page numbers

  We have information on the MLA Style and the APA Style, or ask your librarian for a printed Pathfinder.

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