Getting Started with your Research
- Consider your Assignment
- Make sure you understand the research assignment.
- What types of resources are you expected to use?
- Select a Topic
- If are able to choose the topic, choose something that is of interest to you.
- Explore your Topic
- Use Google and encyclopedias to define key concepts and explore news and events surrounding your topic.
- Determine the Types of Information you Need
- Map your information needs to types of information sources.
- Do you need popular sources?, scholarly sources?, primary sources?, statistics?
- Gather Information
- Find Books - good for providing in-depth narrative
- Find Scholarly Articles - good for reporting research and providing evidence
- Find Magazine Articles - good for stories and opinion
- Use Learn how to FIND… Books tutorial
- Use Learn how to FIND… Articles tutorial
See also: Getting Started on Research Video
Questions? Ask a Librarian!