Take a moment to reflect on yourself as a scholar. You worked hard to get to Tulane - many late nights studying, days filled with classes and exams, engaging in critical thinking, and hours writing essays.
Becoming a competent researcher, like any learned skill set, takes time and practice. Over time, you will become more comfortable and more adept at formulating ideas, selecting and evaluating information, and using that information to create and share knowledge.
This guide won't make you a research expert but, hopefully, it will help you reflect upon your existing knowledge and skills, and spur you on in the right direction as a first-year student at Tulane University.