Research advice for students

Annotated Bibliographies

A helpful way to develop your research paper is the development of an annotated bibliography. This is typically developed while you are performing a literature survey for your research, and will help you keep track of your references.

• Describe the content and focus of the work at hand (usually a book or article);
• Suggest its usefulness to your research or writing;
• Evaluate its sources, method, conclusions, and reliability;

Sample Annotated Bibliography Format

Bibliographic Reference:

[Author Last Name, First Name.] [Name of book, article, document] [Publisher Information] [Date of Publication] [Page Numbers, is appropriate]

100 - 200 Word Summary:

1. The basic problem that the author is trying to solve
2. A brief overview of the author’s solution method
3. A summary of the author’s results

Preparing Presentations

During the course of your research, you will need to present the results of your research to various audiences (such as conference participants, fellow students, thesis/dissertation committees, and future employers). Sites for advice on preparing presentations include the following:

Avoiding Plagiarism

Preparing Extended Abstracts

For some conferences, you may be asked to submit an extended abstract instead of a normal (brief) abstract or full paper draft. An extended abstract is almost like a "mini" research paper, and is typically 2-4 pages. Sites that discuss how to prepare extended abstracts include the following:

Reviewing Papers for Publication

As a student, you may be asked to review a conference or journal submission (either by your advisor or by an editor). The following link contains helpful advice on how to perform an effective paper review: