POL 215: Parties and Elections: Start

This guide will help you conduct research for your research paper, whether you selected option 1 or option 2. Use the resources on the tabs above, as well as the information listed below, to explore various places to search. 

• Don't hesitate to ask if you've got questions! 
  • If you would like a one-on-one consultation, make an appointment with me or any librarian. We can meet either in person or online.
  • If you have an immediate question, try our 24/7 chat service!
  • And if you prefer an asynchronous approach, use our Research Next Steps form or send me an email directly.

If you are new to the library or need a refresher, consult our Library FAQs. We also have a guide on how to do research well - use it to brush up and expand your research skills! And since everyone can use a refresher on how to find books in the library, we have a guide for that, too.

Finally, be sure to also consult the research guide for Political Science, which will give you addition ideas and strategies for finding materials related to your topics.  We also have a guide on how to cite your sources, so please consult that, too.

OPTION 1: If you are expanding your prediction paper, here are some recommended ways and places to search:

• Newspaper articles will be a goldmine of information for finding post-race analysis. Use the News Sources box on the Articles tab to search local, state and national papers; this is how to get around paywalls!
• Browse some of the links below to see if they have relevant information. 
• Use the additional tabs on this guide for help on additional ways and places to search.

OPTION 2: If you are writing on a totally new topic, here are some recommendations for you:

• Decide on an initial topic. Is there something from the class readings or discussions that you want to learn more about? Do some preliminary internet searches to find some general background about your topic.
• Once you've settled on a topic, use the Books tab to located and retrieve books in our library. We have a robust section of books related to Political Science and you'll most likely find a few recent titles that address your topic. I recommend starting with books, as they're more likely to give you a broad understanding of the topic. 
• Once you've refined your topic, use the Articles tab to find scholarly articles related to your topic.
• Use the additional tabs on this guide for help on additional ways and places to search.

Here are slides from our research session on 11/19