This document provides guidance on writing an informative or argumentative essay, including how to choose a topic, plan and structure the essay, locate and organize relevant information from multiple sources, take effective notes, and avoid plagiarism. It recommends starting with background research on possible topics, creating a mind map to develop the main argument or question, gathering information from a variety of up-to-date and reliable sources, taking notes on how sources relate to the argument, and properly citing all sources. The document also stresses organizing notes, reviewing information and one's own opinion to support the argument, getting feedback, and meeting deadlines.