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Starting your research
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Starting your research
Starting Your Research
How do I select a topic?
Refine your topic
Background information & facts
How to write a research question
What types of sources do I need?
Books
Books
Concrete Suggestions
Articles
Web Pages
Other information sources
What databases should I use?
How do I search efficiently?
Boolean: AND & OR
Truncation (stemming & wildcards)
Phrases (quotation marks)
Database limiters
Subjects vs. Keywords
I found a good source. How do I get to it?
How do I cite sources?
What do I cite? (avoiding plagiarism)
Citation style guides
Citation Tools
Research checklist
Books
Why use books?
To read summarized knowledge on established areas of research.
To get a good starting point for selecting and refining a topic.
To find bibliographies and reference lists that will help you identify other important works on a subject.
Concrete Suggestions
Good databases for books include:
BearCat
Detailed search of material in Crumb and Crane Libraries, and the Sheard Literacy Center.
Electronic Books
The search box on our books page searches our electronic books and bearcat at the same time.
WorldCat
Detailed search of libraries worldwide including SUNY Potsdam. Use in conjunction with Interlibrary Loan.
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