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What you really want to learn from a research writing assignment is how to isolate an issue that interests you, locate experts, research the external views, analyze and evaluate the information you've gathered to form your own position or design your own research study . . . . and then communicate the results of your research clearly.
To do this efficiently, you need to be familiar with the software tools that are available to you. You will need to be able to work with online search services -- and be careful to weigh the validity of sources you locate on the internet. You'll also need to keep very thorough research notes, with complete bibliographic information on all the outside sources you consult. Technology can be very effective, if used properly, in helping you toward your goals and preparing you for your career. The intellectual part of the enterprise -- of course, is up to you. This section provides an overview of the research process, and describes how several software programs -- the internet, a pdf reader, a good bibliographic software program, and a word processing program -- "fit in" to a research strategy.
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