LibGuides: FYSP 091: The Complexities of Identity: Home

Search Strategy

Here is a good, basic formula for getting started with your research:

Begin by narrowing down your topic and developing an initial research question.
Use the keyword brainstorming worksheet to help you tweak your research question, identify keywords and related terms, and keep track of what you find.
Search in a library catalog (Summon, OBIS, OhioLINK and/or WorldCat) to find books and reference sources. These sources will:
- provide BACKGROUND and CONTEXT
- REVIEW and SUMMARIZE earlier work
- help you FOCUS your topic and
- provide CITATIONS to important books, journal articles, conference papers, interviews, etc.
Next, search research databases to find articles. The library has hundreds of databases; those listed on this guide are good places to begin.
You may also wish to use Google Scholar to search the Internet. This is a great tool for doing cited reference searches.

Annotated bibliography tip sheet
This sheet helps you to understand what an annotated bibliography is, explains your job as a researcher as you compile it, and gives some helpful questions to consider along the way.
Annotated bibliography worksheet (Fillable PDF)
This worksheet is designed to help you ask and answer questions as you're reading each document that you're considering. It also gives you some practice distilling that information down into a brief summary.

A guide to help you begin your annotated bibliography.

Chat with us during online help hours

Email us at reference@oberlin.edu

Schedule a research appointment

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Email Me

Contact:

106 Mudd Center
(Mary Church Terrell Main Library)
alonso.avila@oberlin.edu
440-775-8285

Subjects: Africana Studies, Comparative American Studies