A method for selecting a particular strand of an RNA molecule in an RNA sample comprising: (a) hybridizing a first primer to an RNA sample under conditions wherein a complex is formed between a 3' region of said first primer and an RNA molecule in said RNA sample, wherein said 3' region of said first primer comprises a first random nucleotide sequence and a first nucleotide sequence tag; (b) extending said first primer by reverse transcription, thereby generating a complementary DNA (cDNA) molecule; (c) removing said RNA molecule; (d) hybridizing a double stranded polynucleotide molecule comprising a second nucleotide sequence tag to said cDNA molecule under conditions wherein: (i) a complex is formed between a 3' overhang of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule and a 3' region of said cDNA molecule, wherein said 3' overhang comprises a second random nucleotide sequence and a 3' block, and (ii) a 5' end of a complementary second strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule is adjacent to a 3' end of said cDNA molecule; (e) attaching said 5' end of said complementary second strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule to said 3' end of said cDNA molecule, thereby generating an unattached strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule; (f) removing said unattached strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule; and (g) selecting for a particular cDNA strand of said RNA molecule by hybridizing a probe or a second primer to said first or second nucleotide sequence tags. (a) hybridizing a first primer to an RNA sample under conditions wherein a complex is formed between a 3' region of said first primer and an RNA molecule in said RNA sample, wherein said 3' region of said first primer comprises a first random nucleotide sequence and a first nucleotide sequence tag; (b) extending said first primer by reverse transcription, thereby generating a complementary DNA (cDNA) molecule; (c) removing said RNA molecule; (d) hybridizing a double stranded polynucleotide molecule comprising a second nucleotide sequence tag to said cDNA molecule under conditions wherein: (i) a complex is formed between a 3' overhang of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule and a 3' region of said cDNA molecule, wherein said 3' overhang comprises a second random nucleotide sequence and a 3' block, and (ii) a 5' end of a complementary second strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule is adjacent to a 3' end of said cDNA molecule; (i) a complex is formed between a 3' overhang of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule and a 3' region of said cDNA molecule, wherein said 3' overhang comprises a second random nucleotide sequence and a 3' block, and (ii) a 5' end of a complementary second strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule is adjacent to a 3' end of said cDNA molecule; (e) attaching said 5' end of said complementary second strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule to said 3' end of said cDNA molecule, thereby generating an unattached strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule; (f) removing said unattached strand of said double stranded polynucleotide molecule; and (g) selecting for a particular cDNA strand of said RNA molecule by hybridizing a probe or a second primer to said first or second nucleotide sequence tags.