ENC 1101:Written Communication : Medvesky

Starting Points for Research

If you aren't sure where to start, try searching for a phrase using the "Quick Search" button on the library home page. You can also get ideas for what to study by reading a newspaper or magazine.

The library has compiled a guide with videos to help you choose and evaluate your resources. To check them out, head over to the Information Literacy Tutorials page.

When picking a topic its important to make sure its the "right size."  Information on a topic that is too broad will be hard to fit into a short writing assignment, but a topic that is too narrow or specific might mean you struggle to find enough valid information.

Try to avoid being too subjective.

• For example: if you're trying to argue that a President was good or bad, then you should decide how you are going to define good or bad.
  • If a President is good or bad because of how they handled the economy, how do you decide what is a good or bad economy?
  • If a President is good or bad because of other things they did or did not do, then why does this matter? How could this situation have been improved or been worse?

How would you go about gathering evidence to support these claims?

Resources to help with topic selection

These databases contain scholarly articles from experts in their fields, the results of experiments, and other higher level information. These resources can be challenging to use, but contain materials that will improve your understanding of a particular topic.

Try using multiple search strategies or use Advanced Search tools to find out more on your topic:

• Search for keywords and topics instead of sentences and questions
• Remember to narrow your search using filters (resource type, publication date, peer reviewed)
• Try using synonyms to help you locate better results
• Link multiple terms using AND
  • Georgia O'Keeffe AND Texas
  • Fake news AND misinformation
  • Endangered Species AND Tigers

Don't get discouraged! The writers whose works you are reading followed a very similar process of trial and error and assembling a coherent narrative out of the pieces of evidence that they could find. Their reference pages represent untold hours of careful searching, reading, and analysis.

For more information on how to search using these databases, please check out the videos and links below.

When you quote, paraphrase, or cite an idea that is not your own you will need to provide information on your source. The SCF Librarians have compiled an MLA Guide to help you cite your sources. This information can also be found in the MLA Handbook, and the MLA Handbook Plus database listed below.