• Search strategy: List the keywords, the operators (e.g."", ~, OR, and etc.), and the databases or the search engine you used.
• Bibliographical information: Author name; date of publication; title of the article; name of the journal; name of the publisher/database; date of retrieval and the URL.
• Source evaluation: Evaluate the relevance, authority, accuracy, and currency of the source using the source evaluation checklist.
• Summary: Summarize the main points of the material in YOUR own words. If you want to include some smart quotations, remember to use quotation marks.
• Use of the source: Describe how you are going to use this source in your final product.

2. Post your refined topic, thesis statement and keywords.  Map out the main points of your research paper using Inspiration.  You can put your thesis statement at the center of your map and expand it to include the main points you are going to cover in your paper.  List the sources you may use underr each main point.

• Write down the bibliographical information of the article, which includes the author name, the year of publication  title of the article, the journal title, and the database you retrieve the article. 
• Transfer the notes you wrote in class to your weblog in Chinese.  You can insert some examples in English from the article to support your points.

2. List your interests and problems, explore Encyclopedia Britannica Online or other reference tools, titles and abstracts of relevant journal articles, and table of contents in textbooks to connect them to scholarly problems, ask questions and identify one  or two focused issues.  Write down your problems/interests, the process of exploring, the questions you have generated, and the focused issues you have identified on your weblog.

3. Discuss your topics with an expert in the area.  Prepare a list of questions before you meet the expert.  You can describe this course to the expert, and, if possible, ask for some further support throughout the semester. Take notes when you talk with the expert.  Transfer the main points of your conversation onto your weblog immediately after the discussion.  Remember to include a description of the expert you consult as well as the time and location of the discussion in your weblog.  What have you learned about your topic or topics after this discussion?  Write down your thoughts about your topic on your weblog.