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Major research projects are easier to tackle if you break them up into steps (like those suggested below) and give each step a mini deadline. This way, the big deadline doesn't creep up on you. Try an assignment calculator if you are having trouble setting your own deadlines:

The Research Process: Step 1 - Define your topic; Step 2 - Narrow the topic; Step 3 - Gather background information; Step 4 - Create a research question; Step 5 - Develop a working thesis statement; Step 6 - Find and evaluate information; Step 7 - Cite sources; Step 8 - Write the paper

Selecting and Using Keywords 

Topic & Keywords

First, identify the key terms in your research topic or question: Is restorative justice an effective method for rehabilitation?


"restorative justice" rehabilitat*
"restorative practices" reconciliation


  • “Truncating” words can help expand your search. Placing an asterisk at the end of the root of the word:  crim* will find crime + criminal + criminology + any plural forms
  • Multi-word concepts, such as “criminal justice system”, need quotation marks to search the words as one phrase

Different search engines have different rules for how operators are used in their searches. The tips here work in OCtopus and some other database's search engines. Check the help section of the database for more information. Here are the search tips for QuickLaw.

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