Research Guide

The following has been adapted from "The Seven Steps of the Research Process" developed by Cornell University Libraries:

Step 1: Decide on your topic.
Follow your teacher's guidelines on choosing a topic. If you are allowed to pick your own topic, be sure to narrow it until it is managable so that you aren't overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information on it. Conversely, some topics are so narrow and/or current that finding information on them is difficult. It may help if you "test drive" a topic by checking it in some general sources to see if you can find enough information on it. If information isn't available in general sources , you may want to modify your topic or your search terms (step 2).

Step 2: Identify the main concepts and keywords in your topic.
Test your keywords or search terms by looking them up in the library catalog and other online databases. If you aren't finding information with those keywords, you may need to think of other terms to describe your topic. (Example: If your topic is the death penalty, but you aren't finding anything using that term, you may need to use other terms such as "capital punishment.")

Step 3: Find background information on your topic.
Use general sources such as encyclopedias and dictionaries, either print or online, to find background information. Read through the articles you find on your topic. These sources will help you understand your topic and help you to define other search terms before you begin to use more in-depth information resources.

Step 4: Use the library catalog to find books on your topic.
Search iBistro, Godwin's online catalog, using the search terms and keywords you've already identified. Once you've found a book, use the call number to find its location on the shelf. If you can't find your book, see a librarian for help.

Step 5: Find magazine, journal, or newspaper articles on your topic.
Use Henrico Schools online subscription research databases to find articles on the topic you've chosen. When searching in the databases, be sure to use the keywords you've identified earlier in the process. Take advantage of the "advanced search" capabilities of the database you've chosen to get articles more tailored to your specific topic.

Step 6: Find Internet sources to round out your research.
Possible search engines**:

Remember that not all Internet sources are valid for research. If you aren't sure whether or not an Internet source is one you can cite, use a critical eye to look for these evaluation criteria. An excellent alternative to the usual search engines is to use NetTrekker (our subscription database search engine) to find sites reviewed by educators and librarians. Reviews in NetTrekker will indicate how reliable a site is for your research needs. Librarians' Internet Index is another option for high-quality websites on numerous subjects.

Step 7: Cite your sources using MLA format.
Download the following citation guides to help you in compiling your bibliography of sources.

Material in this guide has been adapted and/or modified from Library Research at Cornell: a Hypertext Guide (http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/tutorial.html), developed by the Reference Services Division of Olin*Kroch*Uris Libraries at Cornell University.

**Disclaimer: The content of the sites linked to on this page is not controlled by Godwin High School or HCPS. Evaluate sites critically and cite sources properly.