Erie Community College, State University of New York

Always allow enough time to do library research.  

Formulate a thesis (specific idea) by stating it in the form of a question.  Identify the main concepts in your question.  Narrow or broaden your topic by time period or geographic location or by aspect or point of view.

Acquire background information on a subject and to develop vocabulary control.  Obtain a general overview of the topic by reading about it in specialized encyclopedias and handbooks, textbooks or encyclopedia yearbooks.

Decide what type of information you need:

Factual?  Analytical?
Objective?  Subjective?
Primary?  Secondary?

Decide how current your information must be:

Only very recent?
Only historical?
Some historical and some current?

Decide how technical your information must be:

Materials that can be used by experts in your subject field?
Materials that can be used by the "general public?"

 

 

Determine the quantity of information you need:

Enough for a 15 page paper?
One or two sources required by your instructor?

Evaluate the sources you find.  (Click here for more information.)

Cite the sources you find.   (Click here for more information.)