Introduction

This site has been designed to help you with locating materials for the research that you will be doing. Please use the buttons on top of the page for the information you need.

The research process begins with choosing a topic and ends with citing sources.

How to Define your Topic: Do some background reading to familiarize yourself with the topic and clarify your understanding of the topic by asking yourself some questions.

How to Select your Sources: The sources you choose for your research will vary according to your research topic. In general, your professors want you to use a combination of these resources: books, journal articles, newspaper articles, and Internet resources.

How to Evaluate your Sources: From books to Internet sites to television to scholarly journal articles, it is always important to critically evaluate your sources.

How to Cite your Sources (MLA, APA, etc.) : A research paper presents the results of your investigations on a selected topic. It is based on your own thoughts and the facts and ideas you have gathered from a variety of sources. Whenever you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or otherwise refer to the work of another, you are required to cite your sources.

Ask a Librarian: Additional assistance is available should you have any questions or problems with your research. You may also contact the Reference Desk (Phone:348-6211 ext. 2647).

Last updated in Fall 2004
Created and maintained by Miao Hong
Contact hongm@marywood.edu,
Marywood University Library