Research Worksheet

1.  Select a topic: _______________________________________________________________________________________

2.  Turn your topic into a title:  ____________________________________________________________________________

3.  Prepare a preliminary outline:

I.  Introduction

II.  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

III.  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

IV.  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

V.  Conclusion

4.  List known terminology:

Authors: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Titles: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Keywords: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Descriptors: _________________________________________________________________________________________

LC Subject Headings: __________________________________________________________________________________

5.  Get background information from general/specialized encyclopedias: Library Catalog search query:  Advanced Search for [topic] in Keyword Anywhere and set Limits Location to Reference.  Also, for online Reference sources select eReferences.

Use Sources to find more sources:  Additional searchable access points gleaned from bibliographic records:

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) numbers:  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

LC Subject Headings:  _________________________________________________________________________________

Authors:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Keywords/Descriptors:  ________________________________________________________________________________

Use Sources to find more sources:  Additional terminology gleaned from encyclopedia articles:

Persons; article author: _________________________________________________________________________________

Places:  ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Events:  _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Bibliography:  (photocopy and attach)

Keywords:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________

6.  Refocus topic:  _________________________________________________________________________________________

Adjust Outline:

I.               Introduction

II.             ___________________________________________________________________________________________

III.            ___________________________________________________________________________________________

IV.            ___________________________________________________________________________________________

V.              Conclusion

7.     Search the Library Catalog: use searchable access points from 4 & 5 above.  See "Identify Scholarly Books" for more help.

Use Sources to find more sources:  Additional searchable access points gleaned from bibliographic records:

DDC numbers: _________________________________________________________________________________________

LC Subject Headings:  ___________________________________________________________________________________

Authors:  ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Keywords/Descriptors:  ___________________________________________________________________________________

8.     Select appropriate periodical indexes:  Library Web site – Find Articles; see General Guide to Library Resources for a list of primary indexes per major; use Identifying Scholarly Periodicals for more help.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

9.  Select appropriate Web sites:  Library Web site – Web Resources; or…

Internet Scout Report:  http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/about/

            BUBL Link:  http://bubl.ac.uk/link/

            The Digital Librarian:  http://www.digital-librarian.com

            INFOMINE:  http://infomine.ucr.edu/

            Librarians' Internet Index  http://www.ipl.org/div/subject

            WWW Virtual Library  http://vlib.org/

10.  Use Sources to find more sources:  Additional Searchable access points gleaned from each article, book, bibliographic record, Web site used:

Authors: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Persons:  __________________________________________________________________________________________

Places:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Events:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Bibliographies; cited references: print off; photocopy and attach.

Keywords:  ________________________________________________________________________________________

DDC numbers: ______________________________________________________________________________________

LC Subject Headings:  ________________________________________________________________________________

11. Evaluate each resource found (use “Evaluating Resources” and “Web Page Evaluation Worksheet”).  For additional help see the bibliography "Web Resources for Evaluating Resources".

© Janet Tillman/The Master’s College, 2008-2010, permission is granted for non-profit educational use; any reproduction or modification should include this statement.
Last updated July, 2010.