Begin by determining your research objectives—the goals you need to accomplish with your research. Your knowledge of the topic will influence your goals. If you don’t know a lot about the subject, begin with general research to learn more about the basics. On the other hand, if you know your topic well (for example, you already have a good idea of your thesis and even some of your main points), you might want to use research to learn more about specific aspects of your topic. When determining which aspects of your topic to research further, consider your rhetorical purpose and your instructor’s research requirements. Finally, before moving ahead with your research, make a list of the subject matter you need to research and the questions you need to answer. This will help you stay focused on your research objectives.