Introduction
Research papers are the most difficult papers to write because the quality of the work has to be very detailed and you have to give more facts than opinions. Research involves using the library's online catalog, databases, government documents collections and more. Research is not necessarily copying passages and putting them together with other information you can find. Good research involves following the steps you need to take in order to make sure you have the correct information that your audience can understand.

Choosing, Narrowing and Researching a Topic
When choosing a topic to research you have to make sure you have the right tools to help you get reliable information in order to have a successful paper. You have to make sure you have an idea of what you want to research, choosing a topic can be the most difficult part of the whole process. Narrow down your options to one that will have your best interest and will be worth your time to research, since you are going to spending lots of time finding information about that topic. Start by getting general information that can give you a basic idea about what you are about to be researching. Once you have that basic information on your topic, this will help guide you in the right direction. With that basic information you will see that there are many other aspects to your topic and you will now have to start taking those steps into researching more about it. Use keywords within the information you find to make new discoveries about your topic. Reference works and a quick search in the library catalog, periodical databases, or the Internet you will find definitions, and other material that can help you with your research.
Doing the Research
The library is such an important piece to finding reliable information when researching a topic, whether it is for a class or your job you can always rely on the library to have resources available for your use. Although we tend to think that the internet has some of the best information we can find, that is not always the case. You can miss out on some of the best material by just using online resources only. Every library has books and journals, as well as electronic databases that are not usually available on public Web sites. The library also has very reliable librarians that work with your professors to find sources and materials that are helpful for you during the research process.
You can contact a reference librarian in several ways. If you use email, you are most likely guaranteed a quick reply or you can even call the reference desk to ask any question you may have about a book or article you may be looking for. Let the librarian know what searches you have tried, and he or she should be able to help you figure out new strategies to get to the information you need. In the library you will also discover that there are some online databases you can use such as Ebscohost which is an online service that provides access to many different databases like SOCIndex and SPORTdiscuss. These are databases that discuss topics such as sports and Sociology.

Pulling Out the Important Information Using keywords are very important when doing research. Find keywords that are related to your topic. Create a list of those keywords that you find and start brainstorming similar terms and subtopics that will help you find resources for your topic. For example, if you are writing a paper on global warming, keywords may include climate change, greenhouse effect, etc. If you are having trouble finding or coming up with keywords go to an encylopedia. Encyclopedias help with providing general overviews of topics that can help you understand that basic of a concept or event. Along with finding keywords it is also important to find sources that can help you, such as articles and journals which can give you more information other than what you may have already found. While using sources be sure that the information is relevant to your topic. Ask yourself questions like, “Is it introductory?” it neither assumes nor requires prior knowledge about the topic. Make sure it can help you introduce a topic to others or clarify the focus of your investigation. Not only should the sources be relevant but also make sure that you get it checked by somebody who has the qualifications to write or speak on the subject. Make sure that you can identify the author and be ready to explain why that author is a reliable source. Good qualifications might include academic degrees, institutional affiliations, an established record of researching and publishing on the topic. Lastly, when you are searching for sources, you should realize that all materials have an author who has personal beliefs that affect the way he or she views the world and approaches the topic. Many sources, will be heavily bias toward a specific viewpoint or ideology. Think carefully about how well you can trust the information in a document.

Conclusion
Research has many steps you need to take in order to be successful. Narrowing down to one topic may be the hardest part of the research process but you can find way to help you choose the best topic for you that may stick with you throughout your life. You want to find information that you will be interested in, in the long run. Doing the research about your topic is the most complex step of the process. You have to find lot of keywords and use reliable sources to help you be successful. The library is a very important piece to finding your sources because it offers plenty of help and has many books and people available for your use. The research process can seem very difficult but with the right steps you will be ready to do the research on your own and help others through the research process with your new skills and knowledge.