How do I get started?

The first step to finding information is to think about your topic. Unless your instructor has assigned a specific topic, it is important to choose a topic which interests you. You might consider discussing your topic with your class instructor or a reference librarian.

Focusing your topic is an important process and one that you may have to repeat as you find more information on your research project. The following steps can help:

1. State your topic as a question.
2. Identify the main concepts or keywords.
3. Enter these terms in Acorn, the library catalog and/or in research databases.
4. Keep a list of resources as you go.
5. Repeat this process until your topic begins to develop.
   

Prepared for the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to MIT Libraries for granting permission to modify and use their "Information Navigator" tutorial.