Cunningham Memorial Library: Freshman Writing: Library Research: Planning Your Research

The Research Process

The Freshman Composition process is well-defined by the nature of the course. The entire book, from Chapter 1 through Chapter 13 lays it all out step-by-step. Your professors assign due dates for many of the steps along the way, so you have many checkpoints at which to make sure you are on the right path. The Library can also play a supportive role in the planning stages.

Planning Stage: Library Resources

Library Research Planner {August 2021 version}
Word version; download this template. Use it as is or revise as needed. Research sites specific to ISU and plenty of room to write down additional search words/phrases. Also lists Library contacts if you need to talk to someone.
Library Research Planner {August 2021 version}
PDF version

Assignment Calculator
Use this online tool to plug in a start date and end date for your research paper. As an end date, use the day BEFORE you have to turn in the paper. The result: 12 target dates for you to refer to. Multiple research paper assignments in multiple courses? No problem, just do a calculation for each one, and then use our 'email' option to receive reminders, or post all target dates into your planners. Each step includes helpful links to tutorials or other support sites.

WARNING: This was a nifty product in its day and the date calculator still works but almost all the actual support links are dead so don't be surprised. Someday we may be able to get these all updated.