Start early
You will need time to adequately research your paper. Begin by reading some very basic background materials on your topic (using encyclopedias, biographies, book reviews, etc.) This will alert you to potential areas of research.
Choose a topic that interests you
The more interesting the topic, the more enjoyable the research process. Be careful to not choose a topic so broad that you paper will lack focus. At the same time be careful to choose a topic so narrow that you will find it impossible to gather enough information to complete your research.
Begin by formulating your thesis
After narrowing down a research topic formulate a thesis / research question. Remember to keep an open mind as you do your research and form your hypotheses. Remember you are researching a topic and not simply looking for facts that will support your theses. One quick tip: formulate an open-ended question (a question that can't be answered by yes or no).
Consider each source you use carefully
Who is the author? Does he or she have authority, credentials, a political axe to grind, etc.? Why was this data gathered/created, for what purpose? How old is this data?
Cite information accurately
Cite all your sources properly and attribute all ideas not your own to their proper owner.
To learn more about citing sources, consult the Citation Guide for Williams Students