The Preliminaries:
 

___ 1. Choose a topic

___ 2. Begin preliminary reading

___ 3. Restrict the subject

___ 4. Develop a preliminary thesis sentence

Gathering Data:
 

___ 1. Compile the working bibliography

___ 2. Prepare the bibliography in correct MLA form

___ 3. Begin extensive work in the library reference room; be sure to check:

___ a. general bibliographies

___ b. online indexes (books and collections, periodicals, newspaper indexes, Humanities Index, MLA). Go to <http://library.sjsu.edu/wwwind.htm>.

___ c. full-text indexes (InfoTrac Web, Lexis/Nexis). Go to <http://library.sjsu.edu/fulltext.htm>.

___ d. online catalogue <http://www.library.sjsu.edu/>

___e. if all else fails, ask the reference librarian!

Taking Notes:
 

___ 1. Develop a preliminary outline

___ 2. Evaluate your source material: which is primary material and which is secondary material?

___ 3. Begin note-taking

___ 4. Avoid plagiarism

Writing the Paper:
 

___ 1. Develop the final outline; test your outline

___ 2. Prepare to write:

___ a. put your note-taking cards in the order that your outline is in

___ b. decide on the proper tense for your paper

___ 3. Write the rough draft

___ 4. Edit; check your documentation carefully

___ 5. Revise and rewrite

___ 6. Type your paper according to MLA format (i.e. text of the paper with 1-inch margins, 12 point font, last name and page number in upper right of every page, complete works cited page)

___ 7. Proofread