University Libraries

1. Identify and develop your topic

• State your topic as a question
  Example: what measures can be taken by educators to prevent violence in elementary schools?

  Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question

  Example: violence, grade or elementary school, prevention

  Narrow or broaden your topic as needed

• Use subject encyclopedias, bibliographies, handbooks and guides
• Use lecture notes, course reserves
• Know the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary sources

Use a variety of sources: periodicals, audio-visual materials, government documents, maps, Special Collections & Archives, etc

• How to find a book
• How to read a call number
• Item not at your campus library? Try another library

• Use print or computer-based indexes and abstracts
• Choose indexes and formats best suited to your topic
• Know the difference between scholarly and popular articles
• Ask a librarian which index and format will be best for you
• Find the periodical articles. How to find the full text.
• Item not at your campus library? Try another library

• Web is not indexed; sheer volume can overwhelm you
• Evaluate web sources
• Need help? Ask a librarian

6. Evaluate what you find

• Evaluating bibliographic citations
• Evaluating content from bibliographic citations
• Evaluating web sources

• Plagiarism is knowingly representing the work of others as your own
• Give credit where credit is due
• Use a style manual to cite your sources in a standard format