Step 1: Define

Consider: What questions do you need to answer?
-- Figure out what you need to know or what evidence you need to provide.

When writing a research paper, it may help to:

• Choose a broad topic of interest
• Then limit the topic (focus the topic more narrowly). To get ideas for how to limit the topic,
  Examine overview sources such as encyclopedia articles for a specific issue, perspective, or person that might provide a focus
• Search the broad topic in a research database (e.g. Academic Search Premier) and scan the electronic records (article citations) that match your search for a specific issue, perspective, controversy, etc.
• Examine a couple of books (or a textbook) on the broad topic to learn about specific issues, approaches, or perspectives on which to focus.

If your original search provides little or no quality results, you may need to broaden your search. For example: use biofuels or bioenergy if the term ethanol is not producing the results you need.