Steps for Completing the Exploratory Essay
Find a subject and freewrite or brainstorm on it.
Set up a timeline (roughly two weeks for the research and initial drafting).
Once you know what you’ll need to discover, explore library and internet sources. You might also consider an interview with an expert, if one is available.
Think about what you read. Use outside sources to help you generate the subtopics of your paper.
Take notes carefully, using a combination of summary, paraphrase and quotation.
Record bibliographical information for every source consulted, so you won’t have to search for it again later.
Use whatever organizational strategy works for you: clustering, informal outlining, planning for paragraphs, etc. See chapter 7 of The Critical Edge for advice on the process of drafting and organizing.