Research 101

Tips for Choosing Resources

• It's not necessary to have one resource that covers every part of your thesis.
  Many times you will only be able to find sources that discuss a single aspect of your topic. Just remember to use enough resources to cover all of these aspects. 
   
• Books and articles are not the only sources out there! If your instructor and subject matter allow it, think about other resources such as documentaries, radio broadcasts, interviews, government documents, materials in an archive, etc. Be creative!
   
• More Resources ≠ Better Paper
  Do not simply add titles to your bibliography to reach a source requirement. Every source listed should have contributed to your paper/project.
   
• The currency of your topic will effect your resources. If you are addressing a subject that is time sensitive (for example, a medical issue or recent political issue) you may only want information from the last several years. If you are searching in fUSIon or in a database, be sure to take advantage
   
• If you are choosing a subject that has only emerged in the last couple months, you may not be able to find certain types of resources. For example it can take months or years to publish a book, so chances will be slim that a book will be published on this emerging topic. Look instead for articles or reliable internet sources that are updated frequently.
   
• Make sure to check with the assignment to see if there are any specific requirements for the resources that you can use. Many times instructors will require you to use a minimum amount of sources, or they may only accept scholarly resources, websites with a certain domain, etc.
   
• Always ask your instructor if you are unsure if a resource is appropriate!