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The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for writing a research paper. Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way, you may need to rearrange these steps.

Step 1: Identify and develop your topic

Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment. Since this is the very first step in writing a paper, it is vital that it be done correctly. Here are some tips for selecting a topic:

1. Select a topic within the parameters set by the assignment. Many times your instructor will give you clear guidelines as to what you can and cannot write about. Failure to work within these guidelines may result in your proposed paper being deemed unacceptable by your instructor.

2. Select a topic of personal interest to you and learn more about it. The research for and writing of a paper will be more enjoyable if you are writing about something that you find interesting.

3. Select a topic for which you can find a manageable amount of information. Do a preliminary search of information sources to determine whether existing sources will meet your needs. If you find too much information, you may need to narrow your topic; if you find too little, you may need to broaden your topic.

4. Be original. Your instructor reads hundreds of research papers every year, and many of them are on the same topics (topics in the news at the time, controversial issues, subjects for which there is ample and easily accessed information). Stand out from your classmates by selecting an interesting and off-the-beaten-path topic.

5. Still can't come up with a topic to write about? See your instructor for advice.

Once you have identified your topic, it may help to state it as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about the epidemic of obesity in the American population, you might pose the question "What are the causes of obesity in America ?" By posing your subject as a question you can more easily identify the main concepts or keywords to be used in your research.

Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information

Before beginning your research in earnest, do a preliminary search to determine whether there is enough information out there for your needs and to set the context of your research. Look up your keywords in the appropriate titles in the library's Reference collection (such as encyclopedias and dictionaries) and in other sources such as our catalog of books, periodical databases, and Internet search engines. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings. You may find it necessary to adjust the focus of your topic in light of the resources available to you.

Step 3: Locate materials

With the direction of your research now clear to you, you can begin locating material on your topic. There are a number of places you can look for information:

If you are looking for books, do a subject search in the Alephcatalog. A Keyword search can be performed if the subject search doesn't yield enough information. Print or write down the citation information (author, title,etc.) and the location (call number and collection) of the item(s). Note the circulation status. When you locate the book on the shelf, look at the books located nearby; similar items are always shelved in the same area. The Aleph catalog also indexes the library's audio-visual holdings.

Use the library's electronic periodical databases to find magazine and newspaper articles. Choose the databases and formats best suited to your particular topic; ask at the librarian at the Reference Desk if you need help figuring out which database best meets your needs. Many of the articles in the databases are available in full-text format.

Use search engines ( Google, Yahoo, etc.) and subject directories to locate materials on the Internet. Check the Internet Resources section of the NHCC Library web site for helpful subject links.

Step 4: Evaluate your sources

See the CARS Checklist for Information Quality for tips on evaluating the authority and quality of the information you have located. Your instructor expects that you will provide credible, truthful, and reliable information and you have every right to expect that the sources you use are providing the same. This step is especially important when using Internet resources, many of which are regarded as less than reliable.

Step 5: Make notes

Consult the resources you have chosen and note the information that will be useful in your paper. Be sure to document all the sources you consult, even if you there is a chance you may not use that particular source. The author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be needed later when creating a bibliography.

Step 6: Write your paper

Begin by organizing the information you have collected. The next step is the rough draft, wherein you get your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. This step will help you organize your ideas and determine the form your final paper will take. After this, you will revise the draft as many times as you think necessary to create a final product to turn in to your instructor.

Step 7: Cite your sources properly

Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.

Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes: it gives proper credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references. The MLA and the APA Styles are two popular citation formats.

Failure to cite your sources properly is plagiarism. Plagiarism is avoidable!

Step 8: Proofread

The final step in the process is to proofread the paper you have created. Read through the text and check for any errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure the sources you used are cited properly. Make sure the message that you want to get across to the reader has been thoroughly stated.

Additional research tips:

Work from the general to the specific -- find background information first, then use more specific sources.

Don't forget print sources -- many times print materials are more easily accessed and every bit as helpful as online resources.

The library has books on the topic of writing research papers at call number area LB 2369.

If you have questions about the assignment, ask your instructor.

If you have any questions about finding information in the library, ask the librarian.

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The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for writing a research paper. Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way, you may need to rearrange these steps. Step 1: Identify and develop your topic Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment.

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Out with the old, stale air and in with new fresh air. That's the theme of the two most useful breathing exercises-pursed lip breathing and belly breathing-taught by pulmonary rehabilitation specialists to individuals with chronic lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. Like aerobic exercise improves your heart function and strengthens your muscles, breathing exercises can make your lungs more efficient.

Why Breathing Exercises Help

When you have healthy lungs, breathing is natural and easy. You breathe in and out with your diaphragm doing about 80 percent of the work to fill your lungs with a mixture of oxygen and other gases, and then to send the waste gas out. Lung HelpLine respiratory therapist Mark Courtney compares the process to a screen door with a spring, opening and shutting on its own. "Our lungs are springy, like the door. Over time, though, with asthma and especially with COPD, our lungs lose that springiness. They don't return to the same level as when you start breathing, and air gets trapped in our lungs," Courtney explains.

Over time, stale air builds up, leaving less room for the diaphragm to contract and bring in fresh oxygen. With the diaphragm not working to full capacity, the body starts to use other muscles in the neck, back and chest for breathing. This translates into lower oxygen levels, and less reserve for exercise and activity. If practiced regularly, breathing exercises can help rid the lungs of accumulated stale air, increase oxygen levels and get the diaphragm to return to its job of helping you breathe.

Pursed Lip Breathing

This exercise reduces the number of breaths you take and keeps your airways open longer. More air is able to flow in and out of your lungs so you can be more physically active. To practice it, simply breathe in through your nose and breathe out at least twice as long through your mouth, with pursed lips.

Belly Breathing, aka Diaphragmic Breathing

As with pursed lip breathing, start by breathing in through your nose. Pay attention to how your belly fills up with air. You can put your hands lightly on your stomach, or place a tissue box on it, so you can be aware of your belly rising and falling. Breathe out through your mouth at least two to three times as long as your inhale. Be sure to relax your neck and shoulders as you retrain your diaphragm to take on the work of helping to fill and empty your lungs.

Practice Makes Perfect

Courtney warns that although these exercises seem simple, they take some time to master. "You don't want to first try these exercises when you're short of breath," he says. "You want to try them when you're breathing OK, and then later on when you're more comfortable, you can use them when you're short of breath." Ideally, you should practice both exercises about 5 to 10 minutes every day.

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Like aerobic exercise improves your heart function and strengthens your muscles, breathing exercises can make your lungs more efficient.

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We often don't consider the important role our lungs play in keeping us strong and well. It's not until we experience problems breathing that we take notice. But the truth is, like the rest of our body, our lungs need daily care and attention.

Breathing feeds oxygen to every cell in the body. Without sufficient oxygen, people are more prone to health problems, including respiratory illnesses, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and even heart disease.

But ordinary, everyday breathing isn't enough to keep the oxygen flowing through the body at peak levels, experts at Rush University Medical Center say.

"Lungs at rest and during most daily activities are only at 50 percent of their capacity," says Jennifer M. Ryan, PT, MS, DPT, CCS, a certified specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy. "Like the rest of your body, lungs thrive on movement and activity."

Since regular day-to-day activity doesn't help you use your lungs to full capacity, you need to challenge the lungs with more intense activity. "And to help counteract the build-up of toxins and tar in the lungs caused by environmental pollutants, allergens, dust and cigarette smoke, you need to help your lungs cleanse themselves," Ryan explains.

Follow these 8 tips and you can improve your lung health and keep these vital organs going strong for life:

1. Diaphragmatic breathing

Among the many things you can do to keep your lungs functioning properly are some simple breathing techniques, according to Keith Roberts, RRT, CPFT, director of respiratory therapy at Rush.

"These techniques can be used for people who are experiencing lung problems related to asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as healthy individuals," he says.

Diaphragmatic breathing uses the awareness of the diaphragm muscle, which separates the organs in the abdomen from the lungs.

"By concentrating on lowering the diaphragm as you breathe in, you'll get a much deeper inhale," says Roberts. "This is the technique that professional singers use to increase their lung capacity."

2. Simple deep breathing

Deep breathing can help you get closer to reaching your lungs' full capacity.

As you slowly inhale, consciously expand your belly with awareness of lowering the diaphragm. Next expand your ribs, allowing the floating ribs to open like wings. Finally, allow the upper chest to expand and lift.

After this, exhale as completely as possible by letting the chest fall, then contracting the ribs and, finally, bring the stomach muscles in and up to lift the diaphragm and expel the last bit of air.

3. "Counting" your breaths

You can also increase your lung capacity by increasing the length of your inhalations and exhalations. Start by counting how long a natural breath takes. If it takes to the count of five to inhale it should take to the count of five to exhale. You'll want them to be of equal length.

Once you've discovered the count for your average breath, add one more count to each inhale and exhale until you can comfortably extend the length of time it takes to fill and empty your lungs.

The point is to avoid straining or being uncomfortable. It should be a gradual and easy process.

4. Watching your posture

Since the lungs are soft structures, they only take up the room that you make for them.

"You want to occasionally sit tall and reach overhead, to make more room for your lungs," says Ryan.

"A simple technique for giving your lungs even more room is leaning back slightly in a stable chair, lifting the chest and opening the front of your body as you breathe deeply," she says.

5. Staying hydrated

Getting enough water is as important for the lungs as it is for the rest of the body.

"Staying well hydrated by taking in fluids throughout the day helps keep the mucosal linings in the lungs thin," Ryan says. "This thinner lining helps the lungs function better."

Regular moderately intense activity is great for the lungs, and when you increase your daily activity you get three things done at once: healthy lungs, a healthier heart and a better mood.

6. Laughing

"Laughing is a great exercise to work the abdominal muscles and increase lung capacity," says Ryan. "It also clears out your lungs by forcing enough stale air out that it allows fresh air to enter into more areas of the lung."

7. Staying active

"Regular moderately intense activity is great for the lungs, and when you increase your daily activity you get three things done at once: healthy lungs, a healthier heart and a better mood," Ryan says.

Aim for at least least 20 minutes of consistent, moderately intense movement daily, like a brisk walk or bike ride.

8. Joining a breathing club

"If you can't be active because of lung problems, you can join a breathing club," says Roberts.

These are support groups for people with lung and breathing problems. You can work on breathing techniques and get encouragement and information to help keep you healthy and improve your quality of life.

The American Lung Association offers Better Breathers Clubs throughout Illinois and around the country. Visit the American Lung Association website or call (800) LUNG-USA (586-4872) to find one near you.

The doctor will see you now

If your lungs are damaged, or if you have a serious illness like COPD, emphysema or lung cancer, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath during simple activities

Pain when breathing

Dizziness with a change in activity

A persistent cough

Wheezing with exercise

Cough associated with exercising

Pain in the airway (the path air follows to get into and out of the lungs)

See your primary care doctor if you have any of these symptoms. They can run tests to figure out the cause, or refer you to a specialist if needed.

If you have a history of smoking, talk to your doctor about how often you should have your lungs checked. The good news is that if you stop smoking, you can recover from the damage, and the ongoing check-ups will show your progress.

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We often don't consider the important role our lungs play in keeping us strong and well. It's not until we experience problems breathing that we take notice. But the truth is, like the rest of our body, our lungs need daily care and attention. Breathing feeds oxygen to every cell in the body.

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Your lung function can diminish with age, but it's still possible to keep your lungs working at an optimal level.

An average man who lives to age 80 may take more than 672 million breaths during his lifetime. However, the breaths in his 60s and 70s are different from those he took when he was younger.

"Your lung function declines with age, like other parts of your body," says Dr. Aaron Waxman, director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Your lungs finish development by age 25, and their function remains stable for about 10 years. After that, they begin to gradually decline. By age 65, you've typically lost up to a liter of lung capacity compared with when you were younger."

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Breathing life into your lungs - Harvard Health

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By age 65, the average man has typically lost up to a liter of lung capacity compared with when he was younger. However, it is possible for a person to preserve lung function and maybe even slow its natural decline by consuming more antioxidant-rich ...

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Specific breathing exercises and a little physical activity can help some people with lung disease. It is important that you always plan any exercise routine after consulting your doctor or healthcare professional.

Lung diseases can cause breathing problems

There are many diseases that can stop your lungs from working as well as they could. Some of these conditions include:

asthma

emphysema

bronchiectasis

chronic bronchitis.

Feeling short of breath is one of the most common symptoms of lung disease and you should speak with your doctor if breathing is difficult.

Muscles involved in breathing

Your body absorbs oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide as air moves in and out of your lungs. The structures that move air in and out of your lungs are the muscles of your ribcage and your diaphragm, a sheet of muscle that sits beneath your lungs and above your abdomen.

Air is carried through your lungs from your mouth all the way down to small structures that are like hollow sacs. Each sac contains a mesh of blood vessels where oxygen can enter the bloodstream. When oxygen levels are too low, the brain sends signals to the muscles that control your breathing so that they will work harder. This means that people with breathing difficulties have to work harder to get enough oxygen.

If the lungs are stiff and not flexible, the diaphragm also has to work harder. In addition to the muscles that directly control breathing, people with breathing problems often use other muscles to breathe, including the muscles of the neck and shoulders. All this effort can make breathing very tiring.

Specific breathing exercises

If you have a lung condition, you should consult your doctor or healthcare professional before starting any new breathing exercises.

Pre-exercise screening is used to identify people with medical conditions that may put them at a higher risk of experiencing a health problem during physical activity. It is a filter or 'safety net' to help decide if the potential benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for you. Print a copy of the and discuss it with your doctor or exercise professional.

The ways that specific breathing exercises can help your condition include:

improving the strength of your diaphragm

getting more air into your lungs

helping to bring up deep-seated mucous

keeping the lungs and chest wall mobile.

Relaxed deep breathing

Sit down, relax your shoulders and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your abdomen should move in and out while you're breathing. This shows that you are using your diaphragm and that you are breathing deeply.

Prolonged breathing out

Breathe in for two counts and breathe out for three or four counts. This helps to expel any trapped air so there is more room for fresh air when you take your next breath.

Physical exercise to improve breathing

Some people with breathing problems avoid physical activity because it makes them feel short of breath. But avoiding physical activity might reduce your lung function even more.

Make sure you discuss the possibilities of an exercise program with your doctor or healthcare professional before you start any new activities.

Some examples of physical activity that can be useful include:

Walking - start with a few minutes each week and build up slowly.

Stretching - keep your muscles supple.

Weight training - use small hand-held dumbbells.

Tai chi - practice breathing techniques and slow graceful movements that might help to relax and rejuvenate the body, boost energy, calm the mind and improve posture and balance.

Hydrotherapy - exercise in warm water.

Don't push yourself. If you start feeling short of breath, stop, sit down and practice your breathing exercises.

Exercise training for people with breathing problems

Hospitals with respiratory units often run pulmonary (lung and airway) rehabilitation courses. The courses may be twice a week for six weeks and might use a holistic approach that includes:

monitored use of a treadmill

use of an exercise bike

tailored exercise routine

lectures by a respiratory physician

physiotherapy

occupational therapy.

Other healthcare professionals who might offer you advice include:

social workers

pharmacists

dietitians

Where to get help

Your doctor

Your respiratory professional

Hospitals with respiratory units

Lung Foundation Australia Tel. 1800 654 301

Dietitians Association of Australia Tel. 1800 812 942

Physical Activity Australia Tel. (03) 8320 0100

Things to remember

Breathing can be much harder for someone with lung disease.

Breathing exercises and light physical activity can help with breathing difficulties.

Always consult your doctor or health practitioner before starting any type of exercise program.

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Breathing problems and exercise | betterhealth.vic.gov.au

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Specific breathing exercises and a little physical activity can help some people with lung disease. It is important that you always plan any exercise routine after consulting your doctor or healthcare professional. There are many diseases that can stop your lungs from working as well as they could.