How to Research

1. Know your topic (example: Civil Rights and the Cold War, Vietnam Films, etc...)

2. Decide what tools you will use to research the topic

3. Do basic research (textbook, online hisotry sites, NOT Wikis etc...)

4. Plan what key concepts you will research more thoroughly

5. Use research tools (online journals, books, films, etc...)

6. There are MANY FREE ways to get access to these resrouces. For instance, the Boston Public Library offers an e-card to anyone that signs up for it. Find the sign up HERE.

7. Fill out the information and WIRE DOWN YOUR PASSWORD IN AN E-MAIL TO YOURSELF!

8. Use the electronic resources tab to begin your research

9. Determine what journals may be useful to find information... you could use this tool to help ...

10. Use keywords from your research (NOT A QUESTION) in the appropriate field on the electronic resrouces site.

11. Once you have searched keywords in a journal or more broadly from the library's e-resources page you will have a number of results to select from. The most useful articles will provide a link to a FULL TEXT version.

12. You must be willing to READ for RESEARCH. This means that you can not simply "click around" to find a relevant article. KNOW the resource is a relevant one by reading it and considering how it fits into your resarch goals.

13. Once you find relevant articles, save them to your computer profile and e-mail them to yourself for safe-keeping, you don't want to have to find them all over again if you can avoid it.