Locate at least three credible sources on the research topic and take organized notes in one's own words with sources tracked.
A strong research report draws on at least three credible sources -- not just one encyclopedia entry. Using multiple sources lets you check facts against each other and builds a fuller picture than any single source could give.
As you read, take notes in your own words on note cards or in a notes document, and tag every note with which source it came from. Writing in your own words now, rather than copying sentences, will make citing and drafting far easier later -- and it is the first step toward avoiding plagiarism.
Mastery looks like: They gather at least three credible sources and take notes in their own words, each note tagged with its source.
Common stumbles: Copying sentences nearly word-for-word instead of genuinely rewording; forgetting to tag which source a note came from.