Researching a topic for a term paper
SELECTING A RESEARCH TOPIC
1. Be familiar with the basics of research paper writing and writing guides.
Print resources: manuals of style, MLA style, how-to term paper manuals (use CARLweb catalog or other library catalog).
2. Understand assignment requirements and instructor's expectations.
> Type of paper, the length, the number and types of resources required, and the date due.
> Is it an essay, research paper, speech? How many pages? Are > Internet resources allowed (other than library subscription databases)?
3. Browse for topic, locate background information, and select general topic
> Choose something that interests youtopics connected with your major, your job, significant people and events in your life as well as current issues that might interest you.
> Print resources: Taking Sides (Ref), Opposing Viewpoints (Circ), CQ Researcher (Ref and Circ), 10,000 Ideas for Research Papers (Ref and Circ), encyclopedias (Ref), newspapers, magazines, table of contents and indexes in books on broad topics.
> Examples of general topics (usually a keyword or two): cloning, global warming, corporate
corruption, privacy issues.
4. Narrow topic/select an aspect of a topic
a. Add or change concepts/keywords
b. Pose topic as a question
Example: What solutions are being proposed for global warming through international
cooperation?
5. Test the topic with a literature search
Is there an adequate amount of information on the topic, or is there too much or too little information? What alternate topic ideas does the literature search yield?
6. Refine the topic if necessary
a. Narrow the topic further if there is too much information
b. Widen (broaden) the topic, or change it completely, if you cannot find enough information
RESEARCHING A CHOSEN TOPIC
1. Start a literature search for books and articles on your chosen topic
Use the online computer catalog (CARLweb) to locate books, and the online periodical databases to access articles.
> The Library home page from the ACC home page: www.araphoe.edu (click Current Students, then Library).
> Or go directly to the Library home page:
2. Test your topic to see if there is an adequate amount of information in books and articles.
Ask yourself: Is there is too much or too little information?
Tip: You might need to use a broader term to search for books in CARLweb (then check for your specific topic in the table of contents and index of the book).
3. Refine the topic if necessary
If there is too much, you might need to narrow your topic; if too little, narrow it. If you cannot find enough information, you might have to choose an alternate topic.
Narrow (specify) if there is too much information by
a. Using more specific terms
b. Using more terms
c. Some search engines/databases allow placing phrases within quotations (" ")
Widen (broaden) by
a. Using more general terms
b. Using fewer terms
c. Using synonyms or alternate terms or spellings (in place of or in addition to existing terms)
d. Some search engines/databases allow truncation
(* or ?) to expand root word
Consider using the advanced feature of Boolean searching offered by some databases and search
engines (Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT)
Be aware of using singular/plural forms of words
a. Singular forms usually result in more hits
b. Using both singular and plural increases hits and vary results
Be aware of capitalized words: some search engines/databases are case sensitive, others are not.
Start out using the ACC periodicals databases. After using periodicals databases and you can't find the full-text of your article from a citation or abstract, try:
ACC Periodicals List available at the Reference Desk (listings for hard copy in Library, on microfilm/fiche in Library, as well as holdings by ProQuest and at www.ipl.org).
The Denver Public Library's and Auraria Library's large collection often have the periodicals you're looking for.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request (takes several days to several weeks for photocopy request).
Ingenta (formerly UnCover) at www.ingenta.com, available by fax in 24 hours for a fee. Its huge holdings is also very useful for citations for use in obtaining articles elsewhere.
If you have plenty of time, do an ILL request, otherwise you can go to an area library once you have identified where the periodical is held.
4. Be aware of/consider all possible resources to find full-text articles.
5. Be aware of/consider all online access points to obtain books
Catalogs: ACC CARLweb, Other CARL libraries (CARLweb), Prospector (other college libraries), ACLIN at www.aclin.org (public libraries and college libraries), OCLC FirstSearch WORLDcat (books in other states).
The following information is from a handout
and PowerPoint presentations I have prepared for library research classes at Arapahoe Community College (ACC), in Littleton, Colorado. Although tailored to ACC, most of the information here is useful to anyone looking to improve their research skills.
For the PDF version of the handout on researching and writing a paper, click the icon on the right. (You must have Acrobat Reader to view this file.)
PowerPoint presentations here cover the following topics: Basics of Library Research, Print and Electronic Resources at ACC and on the Web, and Electronic Resources at ACC. Just click the icons. (Your computer must have PowerPoint to view or download these files.)
Be patient, as it may take a while for the files to download on your computer.
