Do you have to find sources for a research assignment and don't know where to begin? No problem! This page contains links to tools and tutorials that can help you find reliable information.
Choosing a Topic
Not sure what to write about? If you don't yet have a topic and need some ideas, these resources can help.
This database contains a frequently updated Hot Topics section that focuses on key global issues, events, and people.
Once inside the database, locate Hot Topics under Quick Links.
Planning Your Search
You've chosen a topic, but before you begin searching for sources, take some time to plan a strategy.
Concept mapping can help you to identify key search terms for finding sources on your topic. It can also help you to organize your paper and decide what aspects of your topic you want to cover. You can brainstorm search terms related to your topic by simply writing them down, but if you want to take a more visual approach, you can start with this Concept Map Worksheet [PDF], or try one of the following interavtive tools.
Or, ask an AI tool such as ChatGPT to create a concept map on your topic. Be sure to specify that you want the result in a visualized format (such as a diagram).
Research Tools & Tips
It's time to dive in and do some research. These tools and tips will get you started.
The MDC Libraries provide free access to over 100 databases containing popular and scholarly periodicals, ebooks, videos, and other types of information resources. The Recommended Databases page can help you decide which databases to try.
Northeastern Illinois University Libraries
Yavapai College
This AI-powered tool can help you find scholarly articles. Unlike generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Consensus is specifically designed for academic research. See Streamlining Research with AI for a helpful video tutorial. The presenter begins speaking in detail about Consensus at the 10:50 mark.
Several of the library's EBSCO databases (such as Academic Search Complete, EBSCO eBooks, and others), now offer an AI-powered "natural language" option that enables you to search for sources using complete sentences such as, "What are the effects of global warming on marine ecosystems?"
Once inside an EBSCO database, click Basic Search and look for the "Natural Language Search" toggle switch.
You might be familiar with using Google Scholar to search for information from scholarly sources, but did you know there's a way to make it even more useful? The link above is a customized link that automatically connects Google Scholar to MDC's library databases to increase your chances of gaining free access to fee-based materials. Entering Google Scholar through this link enables you to see which of your search results are freely available in MDC's databases, and provides direct links to those resources.
Use the search box below to find books and ebooks in the MDC Libraries collection.
Evaluating Sources
There's so much information out there. How do you decide which sources to use for your research assignment? How do you know if the sources you've found are reliable? These links can help.
Southern Australia University
DiscoveryNews
McMaster University
University of Houston Libraries
Contact one of your Campus Librarians or connect to the statewide Ask-a-Librarian service: Chat | Email | Text
This page was created and is maintained
by Jenny Saxton
Questions and comments are welcome.