Welcome to your library course guide! It provides ideas for where and how to search for your topics. In addition to this guide, I recommend consulting the Stay Connected to the Library During the COVID-19 Emergency guide. Also, if you're new to doing academic research - or need a refresher - consult our Quick Answers guide.
Spring 2021 reference (research) help:
Don't expect to find the "perfect" article the first time you sit down to search. This is especially true if your topic is really broad. Articles tend to be more specific, so as you search, start paying attention to the scope of articles - you want to get a sense of the following question: "What are people talking about when they talk about my topic?"
Think about search terms - and using more than one word or phrase. Pay attention to the terms that experts in the field use to identify your topic. Different search terms will bring up different results, so be sure you're using a variety of search terms. Consult the Search Tips tab (top of page) for more ideas on how to search.
Be sure to find articles that you understand. This might be a little obvious, but it bears repeating. You might find an article that describes your topic but is written for people who are already scholars or experts. It might be too dense or complicated to understand. There's nothing wrong with dismissing a source because it is too technical. If you find one that's easier to understand, your research and presentation will be much better.
