Write down in one or two sentences the issue or question you’re researching and why. Then – moving beyond Google and Wikipedia – use the library’s databases to find three articles that strongly connect with your topic. About each, make a note of bibliographic info, a brief explanation of what the article is about, your assessment of the article’s credibility, and its overall and particular contributions to your research. Include at least one article that surprised you, challenged you, advanced a perspective you disagree with, or made a claim you have questions about. Also, consider research approaches beyond print and electronic resources that may be helpful for you based upon our conversation in class about research beyond the library.
In other words:
1. Write down the issue or question you’re researching and why
2. Use the library’s databases (NOT Google or Wikipedia) to find three articles that strongly relate to your topic
3. Record bibliographic information for the articles
4. Provide a brief explanation of what the article is about
5. Discuss each article’s credibility (even though you found it through the library databases, this does not automatically make it credible)
6. Assess its overall and particular contributions to your research
7. Try to include at least one article that surprises you
8. Consider other types of research beyond the library and print/electronic resources that may be helpful for you