Begin With the End in Mind
Searching for information to satisfy a class assignment begins with understanding your assignment and your instructor's expectations.
What is My Assignment?
Review your syllabus and class notes to understand the requirements for your assignment. Your syllabus may include details such as:
- examine both sides of a controversial issue and formulate your own perspective
- debate three issues associated with a topic
- describe a social problem and discuss one idea for solving the problem
If you are unclear about your assignment, ask your instructor for clarification.
What Types of Sources Does My Instructor Expect Me to Use?
Some instructors will expect you to use specific types of sources for your research, like books or periodical articles. Some instructors may ask you to use only "scholarly"sources. Llibrarians can help you distinguish between the different types of sources specified by your instructor and appropriate for your assignment.
How Many Sources Do I Need?
This is a very common question. For many students, the answer gives them some idea about how much work is involved, or how much time they need to spend searching for information.
Unfortunately, there is much inappropriate information available, so it is not wise to take the first few sources that you find in searching any library catalog, database, or Web search engine.
Even if your instructor requires you to use a minimum of three articles, for example, you will need to read more than three to find the three BEST ones. The computer is not smart enough to present you with the BEST sources first. Only you can determine what is BEST for your needs.
What Style Should I Use for Citing Sources?
Before beginning your research, ask your instructor what style you should use for citing sources.
As you take notes, begin citing your sources on note cards, paper, or in a computer file according to the required style. When you prepare the bibliography, list of references, or works cited portion of your paper you will have all the information you need.
Updated January 2004
Send Comments to Nancy Gauss, ngauss@western.edu
