CVTC Library

USEFUL TERMS

• Abstract: a brief summary of an article to help the reader understand the purpose
• Bibliography: a list of the sources used in research
• Database: a searchable collection of information
• Keywords: the important terms from a research question
• Reference resources: research tools such as encyclopedias and dictionaries
• Subject: the topic of a research question

OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT SOURCES

• Is the information considered current for my topic?
• What bias does the information show, if any?
• Can this information be verified elsewhere?
• Did the author cite their sources or provide evidence?

A NOTE ON WIKIPEDIA

When you don't know much about a topic, Wikipedia is a great place to start for a couple of reasons:

1. You can read an overview of the topic to learn more and even narrow down a few keywords.

2. You can follow the references at the bottom of the page to find useable resources.

However...

Wikipedia is not a valid source for research. You should never have it in your bibliography.