Starting Your Research - Choosing a Topic

The biggest hurdle to starting your research can be choosing your topic. If you need help deciding on a topic, here are some suggestions:

• Talk to your instructor. They can recommend topics that are worth researching.
• Ask a librarian. They have had years of experience in research and can suggest good topics.
• Book series that contain pro/con viewpoints on current controversial issues:
  o At Issue
  o Contemporary Issues
  o Current Controversies
  o Opposing Viewpoints
  
• Database – Issues & Controversies, full text resource of pro/con current controversial issues.

Starting Your Research Choosing a Topic Building Keywords Types of Information	Finding Books Library Catalog Overview Searching Library Catalog Searching Library (cont. ) Reviewing & Locating ... Modifying your Search...
Finding Articles Online Database Information in Databases Choose a Database Accessing the Database	Evaluating Web Sites What is this Site About? Who Created the Page/Site? When was the Information Created? Where is the Information Coming From? Why is this site on the Web? How Accurate is the Web Site?

Back to Top | Contact the Library at: rholt@butlercc.edu for more information or call 316.322.3234, 316.733.3234.