Research Planning What is required of the essay or project? – Length? Number of pages? – Scope? – Evaluative or analytical in approach? – Specific events or battles? – Key personalities? – Can you address all of the requirements well enough to get a good grade? – Are there adequate sources available?

Using Print Resources As always, a search for resources in the library begins on the home page. Navigate to In the past, physical items were cataloged using index cards. Today, the library’s catalog is housed on the web. In the center column below the picture titled “Books and DVDs” is a link to the “online catalog.” Click on it.

Library Electronic Catalog Your page should look like this: Search Options: All Words, Title, Author, Subject, ISBN, ISSN, Barcode, Call Number, Location, Target Audience.

Subject Searching Type in “United States Civil War.” You will notice that the system has retrieved a set of records.

Examine the Record Clicking on the first highlighted title will bring up the full record associated with the particular item. Pay attention to the “Subject-Topical Term” list as this indicates how the system indexes search terms.

Evaluating Your Source Is the book fiction or non-fiction? Will you find information to answer your questions? Is the book suitable for the type of project that you are writing? What is the length or breadth of your essay or project?

Locating information within a book In most cases a book will either have a table of content. Many books will have an index at the back of the book. Sometimes authors will provide a list of sources or references at the end of an article.