E-mail this pageSmart-Start Your Research Project with Feinberg Library
We're here to help!
Writing "A" papers requires doing a lot of things right when it comes to research. Start by making the most of all Feinberg has to offer.
We'll work with you to save time, reduce anxiety, and access key resources. We'll offer expert guidance, helping you to explore any aspect of the research process. Library resources and staff can help you to...
- explore topic options,
- use handouts for concept-mapping and brainstorming,
- access more accurate and comprehensive basic facts and concepts,
- learn strategies for faster access to the best research articles and books,
- get guides to help you cite with style and avoid plagiarism.
Step 1: Thinking About and Planning Research
Library resources include...
- lists of sample social-issues topics;
- our Thinking about Questions handout and Web page;
- examples of concept-mapping, outlining, brainstorming and pre-writing exercises;
- Smart Start Your Internet Issues.
Step 2: Gathering Basic and Factual Information
Here we can provide...
- suggestions for looking-up facts, statistics, important people, places, dates, terms, main concepts for a topic;
- examples of factual sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, web pages, subject reference sources), including information from a textbook and lecture notes;
- help and suggestions for choosing the right resources for your project.
Step 3: Locating Focused and Analytical Information
See a librarian for...
- suggestions for searching the book catalogs, article databases, and locating subject databases;
- guidance in following bibliography citations;
- help using Journals A-Z;
- help using Google Scholar and other Web-searching tools;
- help using Interlibrary Loan (ILLIAD) services;
- tips on evaluating sources as you go.
Step 4: Drafting and Documenting your Research Paper/Project
Feinberg offers...
- citation guide links and handouts;
- tips from the Learning Center on drafting and writing style (see: Integrating Quotations and Signal Phrases);
- style-manual tips on non-discriminatory language;
- writing an abstract;
- examples of good documentation for class presentations.
More Library Services to Explore
Here are some Reference and Writing Assistance Services to help as you do your work:
- Library and Technology Services at a glance
- Online Chat with a Reference Librarian during Reference hours
- Online Chat with a Reference Librarian outside of Reference hours
- FLIER - Feinberg Library's Individualized Extended Reference Service, where you can arrange to meet one-on-one with a librarian;
- Guide to Library and Information Services
- A Student Guide to Feinberg Library.
Contact Information
If you have questions about Feinberg Library, please contact:
Reference Desk
Phone: (518) 564-5190