1. Do you prefer taking notes on paper or on a computer? How will you keep track of your research?
2. Have you selected a topic? Once you have a general topic in mind, brainstorm 5-10 related search terms BEFORE you start your research. This will help you define your research question.
For example: Search terms for Racial Inequality could include specific instances of inequality between races such as incarceration rate(s) or wealth disparity. Search terms for Immigration could include related words or terms like refugee(s), undocumented, DACA; Search terms can also include names of people, events, or places: while researching Climate Change you could use terms like Greta Thunberg, Paris Agreement, or Hurricane Ida.
*See Creating Your Search Statements for more ideas about how to search your topic most effectively.
3. Save what you find (print it or email it to yourself) and keep it in a place you can easily find it again.