Honors Writing 2211: Background Information

Before you begin writing a paper it's helpful to have a good overview of your topic. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, and other reference material can help you.  If a topic looks interesting, but you don't know enough about it, or you want a source of information other than your textbook, academic reference sources are what you need.  You'll learn about the most important aspects of your topic, the important researchers, and many of these sources will list citations to key articles, books and book chapters.

There are many reference sources in the Marriott Library. Some are in the Knowledge Commons; some in the ARC (Automatic Retrieval Center); some in the main library collection; and some online. As you use Usearch, you will be able to see many helpful library resources and their location.

In today's session, you will be using Credo Reference, a new acquisition for the Marriott Library. By using Credo Reference, you will learn basic concepts about the topic, vocabulary used within the topic, and link to other reference or basic resources. Be creative and have fun!

So use the Credo Reference Search box in the left hand column on this page or go to the Research Databases tab on the Library's home page to get started!

The CQ Researcher publishes reports 44 times a year that offer in-depth single-topic coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy. Each CQ Researcher report is investigated and written by a seasoned journalist. Editors identify the topic to be investigated, then the writer conceives its content, formulating the key questions that it will seek to answer; reads background material; interviews a range of sources; synthesizes available information; and writes the report. The report's writer quotes a range of sources, including lawmakers, academics, interest group representatives, government officials as well as citizens involved in the issue. The report concludes with a bibliography that contains an annotated list of key sources.

CQ Researcher can provide with valuable information with which to begin the study of your research question.

Even though we are not going to be using Google search alot in LEAP, this is an important message!

Do you know that Google has a personalization service for you? It actually "filters" what you receive based upon what you clicked on to read in past searches when you've used Google ! This may mean that you are unlikely to receive any conflicting or information with a different perspective on a topic. And you've heard in class that it is  best to be able to answer objections or opposing perspectives in any report or project you write! For an explanation of how to turn off this personalization service, read this!