2torial #0888:
Learn2 Write a Formal Essay (continued)

Do your research

The more information you collect about your thesis statement, the better able you'll be to focus the scope of your essay and prove its assertions. Reading about your subject matter before you begin the writing process will open you up to new ideas and arguments, which you can use to verify and strengthen your own assertions. Besides locating books at your local library or bookstore, here are some other ways to get this research started:

Electronic databases. Many libraries have computer databases listing articles from newspapers, magazines, and journals.

Field research. Through surveys, interviews, and other means of direct observation, you can add authenticity to your essay. For example, an essay on class size in schools would benefit greatly from personal interviews with several students and teachers.

The Internet. By typing the name of your essay topic, or other related words, into an Internet search engine, you may find useful information. Check 2torial #0623 Search the Internet Effectively for more information.

Note: Make sure your information sources are appropriate to your topic, current, and most important, reliable. Use your own judgment when evaluating a source, but if you're in doubt, check with someone whose opinion you trust.