Keeley Library Student Pages:
Research Projects

To locate materials in the Keeley Library, see the section on Finding Your Way Around the Library.

1. Choose your topic. Read encyclopedia or journal articles for an overview of the subject. Brainstorm for ideas. Focus the topic more closely. Develop a thesis statement for your research. Identify the main concepts or keywords in your topic. Make sure it meets the requirements of the assignment.
2. Gather information. Find, collect, and record / summarize information that is relevant to your topic. Use a variety of techniques - books, periodicals, videos, Internet, interviews, surveys, etc. Evaluate the information with regard to the authority of the source, the scope of the information, point of view (be particularly careful of bias), and the validity of the information. Select appropriate information for your use. Use note cards to start organizing your information. Carefully cite your sources in the bibliographic format required by your teacher.
3. Organize your information Organize your information from your notes, perhaps using graphic organizers. Draft an outline which states your topic clearly, followed by sub-topics and brief statements of what to include in each section.

Sample Outline

Outline Title
Introduction.
I. The first sub-topic
    A. First supporting information for the sub-topic
      1. Detail of the information
      2. Detail of the information
   B. Second supporting information for the sub-topic
      1. Detail of the information
      2. Detail of the information
II. The second sub-topic
   A. First supporting information for the sub-topic
      1. Detail of the information
      2. Detail of the information
   B. Second supporting information for the sub-topic
      1. Detail of the information
      2. Detail of the information
III. The third sub-topic
    A. First supporting information for the sub-topic
      1. Detail of the information
      2. Detail of the information
    B. Second supporting information for the sub-topic
      1. Detail of the information
      2. Detail of the information
Conclusion.
Bibliography.
4. Analyze and synthesize the information. Use the information you have gathered to construct a first draft of your report. Bring information from different sources together in a meaningful way. Make significant connections among various pieces of information. Draw conclusions from the information you have presented. Revise the draft to create the final product.

Internet Resources

Library Catalog

To locate items in the library catalog, search in iBistro. You may want to limit your search to search only the Keeley Library, instead of all of the SAILS libraries.

SAILS Databases

As members of SAILS, Durfee students and teachers can access journal and newspaper articles as well as online reference books, from the library's computers and from home. Simply go to the online catalog page, access the online catalog, and click on Online Resources button.

Selected Reference Books

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Last Updated: May 25, 2014