Over the many years we have been librarians, and before that English teachers, we have taught many research lessons and have been asked many research questions. Below is a list of FAQs we hope will be helpful. If your question is not answered below, please see us IRL.

What are some quick tips for finding information?

Look for words in your first article which you can use as search terms to continue the search. If you see that a number of articles come from the same authors, journals or organizations, use them as search terms or add them to your search term(s) to find information you may not have found in your original search.

Scroll to the bottom of a useful article to find additional sources in the bibliographic notes as these are the sources the authors used for their information. This will take you to actual research. Many times the sources are links, so the new information is just a click away. Wikipedia is actually a good source like this. Don't use the Wikipedia article as your source; use the links to the original information at the end of the article.

Should I start with databases or search engines?

Either would work, but use both. Remember that the information in databases has already been evaluated by authorities. You will have to do the evaluating yourself in a Google search. For databases, start with Reference Resources or Opposing Viewpoints. If you access the latter from home, you will need the login.

When do I cite my sources?

Though you won't actually cite anything until you start writing, it is so important that you gather all the information needed for citing your sources as you research. Make sure that you are able to find the article again by copying the link to a document you will save to your Google drive or email to yourself. To review the information on citing sources, go to the Resources for Research page and look at the research page in the OWL link. OWL is the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.

**Finding and Printing Sources

Why am I getting blank pages, overlapping text or only part of my article? Sometimes what you see is not what you get. When you choose PRINT, you'll see a preview of what the printed page will look like and how many pages long that article actually is.

How do I print only the pages I want?  First you have to figure out exactly which pages you want, which may not align with the numbering on the pages. Then select PRINT > PAGES> CUSTOM and insert the exact beginning and ending numbers of the pages you want to print. Your print job will go to the Canon copier and will default to two-sided. You may have the option of deselecting two-sided and only printing on one side.  

**Citing Sources

How do I cite a source?   Sample citations, works cited pages, bibliographies, and papers can be found at OWL. See the Research page.

Do I need to include the super long URL for the article in the database? Generally not. Keep it for yourself so you can find the article again quickly, but you can stop after the name of the database and its publisher. Be sure to follow any directions on recording the URL your teacher gives you.

Should I use MLA or APA?  Most students MLA or APA citations. You may use Chicago, but please discuss this with your teacher. Use MLA for papers on arts and humanities. Use APA for sciences, psychology, and business topics which often rely on the most current data.