COSU 100 Library Assignment: Part 1: Investigating Your Topic

Please take the Library Pre-Test.
It's located in your COSU 100 Blackboard course.

The library can help you find the right kinds of discussion partners.  One logical place to start is with a good background source such as an encyclopedia or dictionary, especially if the topic is new to you.

The information given in this section will help you to complete the first part of your library assignment.

1. Selecting a research topic; refining your topic; and forming a research question related to your topic.

This video tutorial walks you through how to develop and narrow a topic by creating a research question.  

After viewing this tutorial, you should be able to complete the topic narrowing assignment in the "Focus Your Topic" section, and write your complete Research Question under "Write a Research Question."  If you need more help, check out the resources listed in the right sidebar.

This video tutorial walks you through how to identify keywords in your research question.

After viewing this tutorial, you should be able to complete the Identify Your Keywords part of your assignment. If you need more help, check out the resources listed in the right sidebar.

This video tutorial walks you through how and why to find synonyms for your keywords.

After viewing this tutorial, you should be able to complete the Synonym Chart in your assignment.  Sometimes background sources can help you find synonyms.  Try looking up your topic using the background sources listed on the left sidebar.

This video tutorial walks you through how to identify keywords in your research question.

After viewing this tutorial, you should be able to complete the Create Search Strings assignment. If you need more help, check out the resources listed in the right sidebar.

A great way to come up with a research topic is simply to keep current on what's happening in your field of interest.  Try browsing news articles online to find a topic of interest.