For me if I am doing research that I need to remember for a test I write it down if it's writing an Essay or book using footnotes

In may own time I write it as I go normally I tend to write books using other books I have read to get a good understanding of the topic

Then use online journals and websites to help build out may argument

I am currently working on chapter 5 of may book it's non-fiction

After that I tend to go through 6 Chinese military classics a were a commentary on them

And if I get that done I hope to write one of may own but for that I am putting note in may note book

As for controversial stuff one of my articles is under investigation due to being controversial

For me when it comes to stuff like that I think of the progress I have made on medium and I don't which to start from scratch

Here is that article if you where curious
https://jonathanrileywriter.medium.com/sex-relationships-technology-and-iq-6d136e808daf