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Get Started — Reading (and Understanding) Your Assignment

A Guide to Starting Your Research Project

What is Research?

Research "depends upon asking increasingly complex or new questions" (ACRL Framework for Information Literacy). It's a chance for you to explore something that is important and relevant to you. You have the opportunity to add your voice and your understanding to the conversation about your research project.

Your instructor likely is not asking you to find one source that perfectly answers your question - instead, it is up to you to draw connections between your sources and your research project.

Research takes time

  • Read your assignment right away so you know what the requirements are.
  • Plan your time. The assignment calculator can help you: it will help you stay on track and manage your time. 
  • Background research can help you find your focused topic. Make sure you give yourself enough time to do background research!
  • Keep in mind that all research takes time! You're creatively working through the ideas of others. Give yourself more time than you think you need.

Reading the Assignment

Make sure you read the whole assignment guidelines. No one wants to lose points just because they didn't read all the requirements -- the details are important!

If you're not sure about what you're being asked to do, ask your instructor - it's better to clear up any misconceptions early in the process.

You may find it useful to start taking notes while you're reading through your assignment - jot down what you're thinking and questions you have to help get started.

Some questions to begin:

  • Why did your instructor ask you to do this particular task?
  • Who is your audience?
  • What kind of evidence do you need to support your ideas?
  • What kind of writing style is acceptable?
  • What are the absolute rules of the paper?

(Questions from the The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Important parts of your assignment:

  • Kind of sources required (Scholarly? Popular? Both?)
  • How many sources are required?
  • The required style for citation (APA? MLA? Other?)
  • Length requirements (Page number, word count)
  • Due date
  • The Verbs - this is what your instructor is asking you to accomplish

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