Sometimes research can be overwhelming but it helps if you take the following steps…

NEED FOR INFORMATION:

• The need for information is established after your instructor has given you a research assignment.

DEFINING YOUR TOPIC: 

• Develop a topic for your assignment and thesis statement.
• Select several keywords to use while doing your research.
• For help with choosing your topic, go to SEARCH STRATEGIES. 

LOCATING YOUR RESOURCES:

• Let your thesis statement or keywords guide your research.
• Use books, audiovisual materials, and articles in the library, online databases or the Internet to find your resources.

EVALUATING YOUR RESOURCES:

• Make sure what you find is useful.  It's possible that not all the results you come up with while searching the databases or the Internet are relevant to your topic.   You may want to consider searching different resources or redefining your topic by use of different search terms.
• For Internet resources determine if the information is credible or authoritative.  The most credible sites will end in .gov (government sites), .org (non-profit organization sites) or .edu (education sites).
• For more information to determine if your information comes from a credible source, go to CREDIBLE RESOURCES. 
• For more information on evaluating websites, go to EVALUATING INTERNET RESOURCES. 

ARE YOU FINISHED?

• Did you collect enough information to complete your research assignment?
• Does the information you collected support your topic and thesis statement?