Because you'll have to use the Internet at some point in the semester for research purposes, you should learn how to effectively do research with a computer. Visit your campus library and speak with the librarian about finding online scholarly journals and ask how to use the campus library's online card catalog. Some good research websites include jstor.org and muse.jhu.edu.
A major part of research is interaction with others, so you should practice your interviewing skills. If your professor gives you an assignment and you have a long period of time to complete it, consider gathering interviews. For example, if you're writing a paper on indigenous movements in Latin America, visit the sociology or Spanish departments to arrange interviews with professors. Before the interviews, research the topic and write five to 10 questions.
Every research paper must have citations, because this lets readers know where you got your information. If you're doing a paper in the humanities, you would follow the Modern Language Association format. If the paper is in the sciences, you would follow the American Psychological Association format. Your campus or public library will have books on how to use these citation formats, and the information also is available online.