Getting Started with Your Paper

Develop your Topic

Your must develop a focus or point of view. As well, your topic should not be too broad nor too narrow. If it's too broad, you won't be able to cope with time or length constraints. If it's too narrow or obscure, materials will be difficult or impossible to find. Try to state your topic as a question. Then, identify the main concepts or keywords.

Here's an example:

The key words are trudeau and foreign policy.

Consider the Kind of Information You'll Need

• Will you need historical or current materials?
• Should you consult primary sources?
• Does your topic concern a particular geographic area or time period?
• Should you include technical data or statistics?

Researching Step-by-step

Adapt this strategy to your needs. The time you spend on each step will vary according to your topic.

1. Find an overview
   • An overview or summary from a general source such as an encyclopedia, dictionary, or textbook provides background, definitions and key ideas. You can test your main concepts or keywords. If you haven't decided on a point of view, an overview will help you focus your research and provide a context. It often includes a list of books and articles for further reading.
   • Ask a librarian to help you find an encyclopedia, handbook or textbook.
2. Find books
   • Books are the most comprehensive and easiest to obtain sources of information. In the UBC Library Catalogue, look up any books cited in your overview. Then to find more, search by subject or keyword or choose Related Items. Also, browse on the bookshelves in relevant call number areas.
3. Find journal articles
   • Journal articles provide sharply focused information on recent events, discoveries or research. They do not provide background. Were any articles cited in your overview or in the books you've found? If not, or if you need more, look up your topic in an appropriate article index. Ask for help or see our webpage Journal Articles.
4. Look for a bibliography, statistics, etc.
   • A bibliography is a published list of book and/or article citations. If it's "annotated", each book or article is summarized. The Library will not have a bibliography on every topic. But if you find one, you can see immediately how much information there is. Then use the UBC Library Catalogue to find out if the books and articles are available.
   • Other forms of information include statistics, government publications, pamphlets and much more. Ask for help.
5. Look for information on the World Wide Web
   • Use Internet search engines to find materials on the Web but take care to ensure that the information that you find is current, credible and appropriate for your assignment. Consult our guide to Evaluating Internet Sources for more information.

Evaluate Your Sources

Distinguish between Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary sources are the original words of a writer - novel, speech, eyewitness account, letter, autobiography, interview, or results of original research...

Secondary sources are works about somebody or about somebody's accomplishments... writings about the primary sources and about the authors who produce primary material.
-From Writing Research Papers; a complete guide by James D. Lester. New York, HarperCollins College, 1996. p.110.

For more information about finding Primary Sources check out:

• Finding Primary Sources in Humanities and Social Sciences
• Primary Sources for Theatre - Selected Online Resources
• The Government Publications website. - most government publications are primary sources and include materials such as statistics, technical reports, backgrounders, bills/acts of law, declassified military documents, and government hearings.
• UBC Research Guides - UBC Library has a guide for every discipline taught at UBC. Where relevant the guides will include information and links to sources for primary materials in your subject area.

For more information about finding Secondary Sources check out:

• UBC Research Guides - UBC Library has a guide for every discipline taught at UBC and each one includes a wide array of information and links to sources for secondary materials in your subject area.

Keep a Record

Keep a detailed list of all sources you intend to use. You must cite them in your footnotes and bibliography.
For information see the page How to Cite.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct in which an individual submits or presents the work of another person as his or her own. Scholarship quite properly rests upon examining and referring to the thoughts and writings of others. However, w hen excerpts are used in paragraphs or essays, the author must be acknowledged through footnotes or other accepted practices.
- From The University of British Columbia 2001/2002 Calendar, p.41.

• For more information about academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism see the Academic Integrity Resource Centre website here.