Brainstorming
As with any research project, the first step is generally to select your topic. Reference materials (encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, etc. . .) can be a great way to get started. These resources offer overviews of thousands of topics and will help launch you into your search for the scholarly resources that you will need to use to support your research. On this page you will find some selections to get you started.
When brainstorming, it can also be helpful to browse popular, non-scholarly resources in order to understand the status of general discourse on your topic and explore diverse viewpoints while developing a thesis statement that can be supported with scholarly resources.
Getting Started
- Read your assignment carefully!
- Take note of important elements such as the due date, the format, the length, the type of materials you are expected to use, and any other specific requirements.
- Break down the assignment into elements such as the following:
- Who or what are you researching?
- Are you arguing a specific point of view or analyzing a specific topic?
- What do you know about the topic already?
- Start with brainstorming and background research:
- Explore the assigned topic using broad, informational resources such as encyclopedias and reference databases that will help you understand the context of the topic.
- While you are exploring the topic, look for common terms, themes, and ideas.
- Use the outline of the assignment and your background research to brainstorm topics and thesis statements.
- Support your topic/thesis statement with high-quality resources that meet the requirements of your assignment:
- Scholarly materials (also known as peer-reviewed materials) are often required for academic research projects. This is because these resources must be written by experts in the fields, published in reputable journals, reviewed by other experts, and must be based on quality work.
- The Lyman Beecher Brooks Library has a curated collection of resources that provide you access to excellent, scholarly content. Visit the Library Catalog or the A-Z Database List to get started and consult a Research Guide or Ask a Librarian if you have any questions!
- Scholarly materials (also known as peer-reviewed materials) are often required for academic research projects. This is because these resources must be written by experts in the fields, published in reputable journals, reviewed by other experts, and must be based on quality work.
For more information on planning your research, visit the Writing Center, where professional and accomplished writing consultants will guide you through your writing project.
The resources below can help give context to the topic you're researching.
Credo Reference
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Credo Reference
Credo Reference provides full-text online access to hundreds of multidisciplinary reference book collections, including art, history, law, medicine, psychology, technology, bilingual dictionaries, and encyclopedias through a one-stop search platform. Search results often include articles from a wide array of publications and frequently present subject coverage from multiple perspectives. Using Credo Reference to approach a topic from different viewpoints can be a great way to expand your familiarity with the topic and it can help you develop new arguments and observations for your research.
Running a basic search in Credo Reference is similar to searching in Wikipedia. You can use general keywords and phrases in your search and Credo Reference will return results that include some or all of your keywords.
Clicking the "Advanced Search" button below the search box opens up additional options to control what kinds of results your search returns.
Use the provided Advanced Search boxes to refine your search based on the prompts.
In addition, the Advanced Search box includes drop-down menus that will allow you to limit Subjects, Titles, Publication Dates, and Features by checking the appropriate box.
Credo Reference supplies a visual related topics map that can be a great way to explore your topic and see connections that can further your research. Click the links in the map to jump to articles on that topic and generate a new visual topic map.
Click the Hugo Award and a new series of search results will load:
Credo Reference is equipped with a Research Quick Tips tool for help with research, searching, and topic selection to help you make the most of the database. To access the Research Quick Tips area, click on the three-lined "hamburger" menu in the upper-left corner of the screen and choose "Research Quick Tips":
The Research Quick Tips menu has several helpful guides:
Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints
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Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
Opposing Viewpoints includes viewpoints, reference articles, infographics, news, images, video, audio, and more on contemporary topics. Periodical content covers current events, news and commentary, economics, environmental issues, political science, and more. Opposing Viewpoints is cross-searchable with Gale In Context: Global Issues.
Running a basic search in Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints is similar to searching in Wikipedia. You can use general keywords and phrases in your search and Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints will return results that include some or all of your keywords. The search bar allows you to search Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints, Gale in Context: Global Issues, or both at the same time.
This database also offer Topic Overviews. As you begin typing your keywords, you might get recommendations for topics.
Topic Pages
Clicking on the "Browse issues" link in the upper right of the screen allows you to browse topics created by Gale.
This tutorial shows you how to use topic pages and more within Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints to research key issues and topics of debate.
Clicking the "Advanced Search" button below the search box opens up additional options to control what kinds of results your search returns. There are several ways to limit your search including: full text and peer-reviewed, by publication date, by type [Academic Journal, Audio, Image, Primary Source, Videos, to name a few]. Select which limiters you would like and click the search button.
Topic Finder
Gale products include a Topic Finder tool that can assist you with breaking down your research topic and locating related information. This tool is useful for topic brainstorming and for approaching your research topic from a new or related subject area.
The Topic Finder can be found in multiple locations including at the bottom of the landing page, on the Advanced Search screen, and on the right side of the page while viewing an article.
It is worth noting that this is an automated tool and can make errors or pull out terms that are not related to your topic. Always make sure to make your own conclusions about whether these suggestions are appropriate for your research.
How It Works
This tool takes the titles, subjects, and approximately the first 100 words from a subset of your top results and feeds them into an algorithm. Keywords shown in the graphics are those found most often in the text with your search term.
The topic for “Illinois” might bring up expected connections from the text like “Chicago,” along with unexpected but commonly related terms like “water,” “steel,” and the names of people who appear frequently in documents about Illinois.
Citation Generator
This tutorial shows you how to use Citation Tools found in many Gale resources to simplify the research process.
Oxford Reference Premium
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Oxford Reference Premium
This reference database includes access to almost 400 dictionaries and encyclopedias of fully-indexed, cross-searchable works published by Oxford University Press with detailed information across a broad subject range of topics.
Running a basic search in Oxford Reference Premium is similar to searching in Wikipedia. You can use general keywords and phrases in your search and Britannica Academic will return results that include some or all of your keywords.
On the search results page, Oxford Reference Premium offers a series of post-search filtering options on the left side of the page under the heading "Narrow Your Choices":
By default, Oxford Reference Premium shows all content in the results, which includes articles that are not available in full-text. Item availability is indicated to the right of the result with a green open lock 
, the word Free in a green oval 
, or a red closed lock 
.
To limit the results list to items that are available in full-text, check the "Unlocked" and "Free" boxes under the heading "By Availability" in the left side menu and click submit:
Oxford Reference Premium has a help page with additional tips for searching and making the most of the database. To access the help page, click "Help" at the bottom of any page in the database:
