Gathering Information

As with any factual document, it is imperative you do research before beginning your writing. Make sure you are gathering your information from reliable sources. Academic texts, peer-reviewed journals, and credible websites. are all excellent sources of information.[3] Organizations often have access to peer-reviewed journals in their field; check with yours or request access from publishers or authors. If you are writing a How-To guide for a product, check any documentation which its manufacturer may have included.

To prevent violating intellectual property laws, you must cite your sources. The format you use to cite your sources is usually up to you. Some excellent options that comply with modern writing formats are availible at Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab. While they can be helpful, be wary of citation generators which can add extraneous details or may have formatting issues.