Finding Information Within Sources- CRLS Research Guide

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CRLS Research Guide

Finding Information Within Sources

Tip Sheet 7

Ask these questions:

What is it?

It is being able to put your hands on the information you need from many different types of sources.

Why do I need to know how to do it?

If you don't know how, you will waste a lot of time looking through sources for the information you need.

How do I do it?

In order to find the information you need within a source, you have to be able to use different types of organizing tools. To find out more about how to use these tools, click on their link. In books, the most common tools are:

In electronic databases, you can use search boxes.

When you search the World Wide Web, you will construct searches using search engines.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE:

Tip Sheet 12: Making Notecards
"http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/12_Making_Note_Cards.asp

Once you find some good information in the sources, you will need to take notes on it.

Tip Sheet 7a: Using Search Boxes
www.crlsresearchguide.org/07a_Using_Search_Boxes.asp

Go here to learn how to make the best use of search boxes on web sites.

Tip Sheet 7b: Using a Table of Contents
www.crlsresearchguide.org/07b_Using_Table_of_Contents.asp

Click here for a description of where a table of contents is and how to use it.

Tip Sheet 7c: Using an Index
www.crlsresearchguide.org/07c_Using_An_Index.asp

This will give you instruction in using a book's index.

Tip Sheet 7d: Using Search Engines
www.crlsresearchguide.org/07d_Using_Search_Engines.asp

Click here to learn how to construct great searches to get the most useful hits when using search engines.

Tip Sheet 8: Focusing A Research Topic
www.crlsresearchguide.org/08_Focusing_A_Topic.asp

If you have already been through Writing a Statement of Purpose and you are having trouble finding the information you need, you may need to refocus your topic.

If you are not finding very much information, your focus is too narrow, broaden it out to the next level.
If you are finding too much information, your topic is still too broad. You will have to narrow it down more.

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