Which activity is focused on collecting information from sources before writing?

• A. Brainstorm
• B. Conduct research
• C. Consult other professionals
• D. Do whatever is necessary to make yourself the SME

Answer: (B)

Collecting information from sources before writing is about conducting research. This means actively seeking out credible materials—such as guidelines, studies, statistics, and expert publications—then evaluating what you find for relevance, accuracy, and authority, extracting useful facts and evidence, and organizing it to support your writing. This preparatory step ensures your writing rests on solid, verifiable information and provides a clear foundation for arguments and recommendations. Brainstorming, in contrast, is about generating ideas and potential directions without verifying them against external sources. Consulting other professionals can bring expert insight, but it doesn’t by itself represent the systematic gathering and evaluation of information from published sources that writing requires.