Library Research for College Students: Step-by-Step

Research Steps Overview

Use the links to access more detailed information about each of the six steps.

Step 1: Choose your broad topic area

• Choose a broad topic area that you enjoy or are interested in or curious about
  • Personal interest -  arts/crafts, sports, cars, cooking, gardening, genealogy, etc,
  • Career interest -  related to your program at Western or future job goal
  • The world around you - current events, news, social issues, politics, etc.

 Step 2: Gather background information to narrow your topic focus

• Broad topic area: gardening
  • | Narrowed topic focus: native plants of Western Wisconsin
• Broad topic area: health care field 
  • | Narrowed topic focus: pediatric nursing
• Broad topic area: climate change 
  • | Narrowed topic focus:  how fossil fuels contribute to extreme weather events

      Step 3: Use search terms and strategies to find articles in Library Databases 

Library Database Links and Tutorials

   Step 4: FindBooks in the Library (if needed)
 

  Step 5: Evaluate Your Sources for Credibility and Relevance

    Step 6: Use your notes to pull the pieces together and prepare for the writing process