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How to Effectively Research a TopicA presentation on locating and utilizing resources.

+How to Effectively Research a Topic

Key Words and Phrases

Type of Resource

Narrowing Search Results

Credibility

Citing Sources

+Key Words and Phrases

Always use key words or phrases when researching

More reliable search results

Example “How to make really yummy

chocolate chip cookies for Christmas parties”

“Chocolate chip cookie recipe”

The second example will return more relevant results

+Type of Resource

Research Journal JSTOR DOAJ Google Scholar

Book University Library Search Google Books

News Article New York Times Associated Press

Picture Creative Commons Google Images

Deciding on the type of resource needed for research may change where you need to look for the information.

+Narrowing Search Results

Use quotes around specific phrases

Use advanced search to find relevant results

Use search filters to narrow down results

+Creditability

Evaluate the source using a checklist

Research the author

Find what institution the author is affiliated with

Investigate the publisher

Evaluate the source’s sources

+Citing Sources

Give credit to the author

Cite sources EasyBib Microsoft Word RefWorks End Note Zotero

Do not plagiarize! This is stealing!

“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called

research, would it?”

Albert Einstein