First Year Writing Research Guide

STOP is the first and simplest step:

When you first encounter a source of information and start to read it—STOP.

• Do you know the author, publisher, publication, or website to be credible? Don’t read, share or use the source in your research until you can verify it is reliable.
• Then, STOP and check your emotions. If you are having a strong emotional reaction, whether it’s anger, frustration, or even validation, pause. Strong emotional reactions can cloud your perspectives.

Slow down as you move to the next step.