Select source types that are most appropriate for the information need.
For Example:
Information Need | Source Types |
---|---|
Current information on political issues | Current Newspapers & Magazines |
Background info in order to develop a question for a research project | Reference, Wikipedia, Topic Overview Videos (Crash Course) |
Current research on solar and wind power | Academic Journals/Original Research & Government Websites/Docs |
Information to help make an argument about the impact of U.S. westward expansion on indigenous people | Primary Sources from the time, Academic Journal Articles by historians, & Books on the topic |
Shop for a topic that interests you, and read background information.
Topic Shop & Read Background Information in the in Context Databases:
Topic Shop & Read Background Information in the New York Times
Example Articles
Topic Shop & Read Background Information in Google and Wikipedia
Science
Primary Source | Secondary Source |
DEFINITION: A document that fully describes original research written by those who conducted that original research. | DEFINITION: A document that contains commentary, interpretation, and/or analysis of original research. |
EX: Academic journal article where researchers describe their own research and experimentation regarding enzymes in bovine liver. European Journal of Biochemistry | EX: Popular magazine blog post that comments on multiple studies regarding the impact of sleep on regulating emotions. Psychology Today |
Humanities
Primary Source | Secondary Source |
DEFINITION: a document, image, or artifact that provides us with direct evidence about the past. |
DEFINITION: A document that contains commentary, interpretation, and/or analysis of a primary source(s). |
EX: the "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr, | EX: an academic journal article analyzing King's speech. |
Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary Sources | Secondary Sources |
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Create your research question.
Select and brainstorm your keywords.
*Keywords are the words and phrases typed into a database or search engine in order to retrieve relevant sources.*
How to select keywords:
State your research question:
EXAMPLE: "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"
Identify main concepts:
EXAMPLE: "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"
Brainstorm synonyms, related terms, broader terms, scientific/technical terms, and more specific terms based on your own background knowledge:
EXAMPLE:
Cigarette companies: Philip Morris, Camel, Imperial
Children: child, adolescent, teen, teenager, students, youth
Advertising: ads, marketing, commercials, promotions, product placement
Avoid the following:
Abbreviations - spell them out
Relationship words - words like compare, contrast, causation, etc.
Judgement words - words like best, worst, pro, con, etc.
If needed, search Wikipedia and other reference sources to further develop your list of keywords.