Library Research: Stage 3 -Topic Exploration

What is This?  The key word here is exploration.  Your purpose here is to learn enough about your general topic that you can choose a specific focus in the next stage. If you are researching a topic that is new to you, you'll want to get some general background information on it. Even if you already know a lot about your topic, you should find out what sources are available to extend your knowledge. You don't need to gather a lot of specific details yet, just learn the general concepts and ideas.

What Should I Expect?  There's no sugarcoating it: This is often the most difficult part of the process.  Since you are exploring unknown territory, it makes sense for you to feel lost.  You may have difficulty finding information, and some of the information you find may be hard to understand.  Some of it may even contradict what you already know or what other sources say.

What Should I Do?   It's OK to freak out, just don't give up. Here are some suggestions to help you get through it:

• Get started early.  It will take a while for your brain to soak in all the new information you will find, so give yourself plenty of time.  You can't do this the night before the assignment is due.

• Before you search, take a few minutes to think about how you will search. Brainstorm a list of keywords you might use, and try to think of several words and phrases for each concept.  Also, write down a list of sources that you plan to use. You will add to and modify these lists as you go, but it is important to start with a plan.

• Start simple. Look in the encyclopedia first. Make sure to check the index in the print encyclopedia or use the full-text search in the online version.

• Ask for help. Your librarian can't be all that scary, right?  Ask for suggestions on good sources and how to use them.  Also, check out your school library's website to see what recommendations you might find there.

• Don't worry about taking a lot of specific notes, but it is helpful to jot down a few general ones: good sources, search words that work for you, and ideas that you find most interesting (things that you might want to focus on when you narrow down your topic).

• Talk about what you learn with your friends, parents, teachers, librarians, or anyone who will listen.  If you have a blog, you may want to start a new thread just to write about this project.  Talking or writing about what you learn will help your brain sort it out and make sense of it.

• No one looks forward to staring at a computer screen for hours or slaving over a hot photocopier, but hang in there!

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