Most handbooks have good material on the research process. A research proposal whether it is formally written or not is a critical component. A working outline guides the student s investigation. This outline changes daily, hourly, as the student uncovers information that he may not previously have considered. One time-honored system for research is using note cards and bibliography cards .
Cards work well because they are more durable than paper and very easy to rearrange.
Some researchers like to photocopy source material, although there are some inherent dangers in the method. Initially in the research process material is usually organized by which source it comes from. However, when the student is ready to write the first draft, the cards should be rearranged so that all material on a particular topic is together. Once cards are arranged by topic, it s easy to sequence the information, make a final outline, and begin to draft the text of the paper. It is also useful to keep a research journal during the research process to record thoughts and keep a record of activities.