Starting Your Research Think about your topic BEFORE you come to
the library. What information do you need to know or find out?
How will this information be of use to you once you locate it?
(See: http://library.csun.edu/Guides/ResearchStrategies/GettingS
tarted) If you are writing a research paper, consider writing a
brief outline to help you organize your thoughts. - IN ADVANCE
of starting your research, write down the subject words that
describe your topic (this is known as your search strategy). It
will give you a focus when you actually begin searching. - Bring
a printed (written) copy of your assignment with you to the
Library (if possible) detailing the requirements so that you can
refer to it as you conduct your research; it will help keep you
on track. - How much information do you need? Three sources? Six
sources? - What type? Books? Journals? Magazines? - Take ten. If
you come to the library and after ten minutes of beginning your
research, you are not finding material relevant to your topic,
STOP W