Source: Quickmeme

Researching can be very overwhelming. When I begin a research project, I often find myself completely lost in all the different sources available and I don’t even know where to begin. Being a first-year student in college, researching has become a very frequent activity in many of my classes. Because of this, I have had to develop some strategeies to help make my research process easier on myself and less overwhelming.

Here are some strategies that I have found work best for me

• Define your thesis before you begin: The way to find the best sources for your topic is to know exactly what you are claiming or arguing. Your sources must support your claim so the first step you should take before even beginning your research, is to figure out that thesis.
• Make an outline: Figure out what types of sources you want to find. Outline your paper beforehand so you know exactly what to look for. This will save you so much time.
• Break down your topic: One way to make the topic you are researching less overwhelming is to break it down into sections. Search key words. Find specific sections of your topic that will help narrow down your research.
• Go to the library: While many of you dread going to the library to search all through those thousands of books, it can actually be very helpful. You would be surprised at how helpful the librarians can be in your research. The internet should not be your only source.
• The internet can be very helpful but be careful: The internet can provide you with so much helpful information and sources for your paper, but it is very easy to plagiarize and not even know it. So be very cautious when researching and pulling information from the internet and make sure to cite the source!

Yesterday I read the article “BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research-Based Writing” and I found some really useful information that I will apply to my research process.

Joseph Bizup developed an acronym for students to use so that they can understand what exactly they should do when writing a research paper. “BEAM” stands for background, exhibits, arguments, and methods.

• B: Background refers to “materials whose claims a writer accepts as fact”. The background could be general information or evidence to support your claim.
• E: Exhibits are “materials a writer offers for explication, analysis, or interpretation”. Exhibits can be concrete examples that develop or support a claim. Exhibits can be simple or complex, but if it is complex it must be deeply analyzed and written with an eye open to possible objections and arguments against the claim.
• A: Arguments are “materials whose claims a writer affirms, disputes, refines, or extends in some way”. As Bizup puts it, “this is where writers enter into ‘conversation’ “. In you want your argument to be successful, you must consider both sides.
• M: Methods are “materials from which a writer derives a governing concept or a manner of working”. Methods can be key terms or specific procedures to follow.

If you are still confused this quote from the article might help you better understand

“Writers rely on background sources, interpret or analyze exhibits, engage arguments, and follow methods”

Researching can be confusing. BEAM is not to tell what your sources are but to explain how you should use your sources. There are so many different sources out there and it is easy to get lost in it all. Next time you have a research paper, try to follow this. Break it down and determine exactly what you need to make your paper as clear as you possibly can. Try your best to not get overwhelmed and use these strategies to help you along the way.