Best for sustained work
Build a real research workflow, not a last-minute scramble.
Use this when the assignment asks for source quality, argument structure, evidence, and a cleaner long-form workflow from first search to final draft.
Quick win
Open Google Scholar first, but move into Zotero as soon as the topic becomes serious.
Common mistake
Do not collect twenty random sources before deciding what question you are actually trying to answer.
Suggested sequence
- Search broadly, then narrow quickly once you notice a pattern in the literature.
- Save every promising source into Zotero early so citations and PDFs do not scatter.
- Use ChatGPT Projects to keep one assignment, its files, and its working questions in one place.