Start Your Research
When you need quick steps for writing a paper use the information below.
Decide on a topic and find background information
- Work from the general to the specific by finding background information first, and then use more specific sources.
- General
and subject
encyclopedias make good resources for some topics.
More tips on how to narrow or broaden your topic
Find Articles in Journals or Magazines (Periodicals)
- Academic OneFile or Academic Search Premier is where you will find citations and some full text articles.
Advance searching help (bluesheet) for Academic OneFile.
Advance searching help (bluesheet) for Academic Search Premier.
- For more specific information on your topic you can choose from subject databases closest to your topic. If you know what database you need, go to the list of Databases.
Find Books, Videos, DVD’s...(UMD Library Catalog)
- UMD Library Catalog - Basic Search—Use Keyword Search (low on the screen)
Select Keyword or Subject Keywords to begin your search.
Use advanced search to choose a collection like Electronic Books or Videos.
Find Web sites
- Check out the Library Search Engine Page
- Just some things to consider when using web sites for Research
What kind of information do you need?
Who made the site? Why?
Is it reliable?
Can you verify the information?
Don’t forget about advance searches. Both Google and Yahoo! have them.
More information on evaluating web sites!
For more research help
- Ask Us!
- Call the Reference Desk at 218.726.8100
- Stop by the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of the UMD Library
- Contact a Subject Librarian
- Assignment Calculator is a tool that breaks your writing project into twelve manageable steps,
each with its own due date.