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Inquiry Hub - Start Your Research Here
Explore Our Critical Thinking and Future-Ready Resources
Scholars should take advantage of LIBRARY books and databases when searching for credible, relevant and accurate sources of information!
A database is an information platform that libraries purchase to provide access to thousands of curated, reputable newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and encyclopedias for a streamlined experience. Databases often feature pre-made citations, Google Drive integrations, and the ability to filter your search based on your specific needs.
OTHER ONLINE LIBRARY RESOURCES
If a second password is needed, contact YOUR librarian.
Ms. Roberson's Recommendations: Create a Learning Express Library account for practice tests and college / scholarship resources.
Additional Sites
Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) : a US project aimed at providing public access to digital holdings in order to create a large-scale public digital library.
Google Scholar: a free search engine that indexes scholarly literature from a wide range of sources, including academic publishers, universities, and scholarly societies.
JStor: JSTOR’s archives contain millions of articles dating back to the 17th century, making it an invaluable resource for historians and other scholars.
Science.gov: provides access to millions of authoritative scientific research results from U.S. Federal Agencies.
Umbra Search (for African American History): Exploring African American stories through digital projects by students, artists, and archivists.
WorldCat: a global catalog of library materials. You can search for books, music, video, articles and much more at libraries near you.
JSTOR Disclaimer: You can read online for free:
With a free personal account, you can read up to 100 journal articles online every 30 days.
When searching for online sources with Wikipedia or Google Scholar, valid articles MUST provide a reference list. Review the referenced articles for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose (aka the C.R.A.A.P. test)
How to Start Doing Research in High School
The Research Cycle
(FutureLearn.com)
Research Begins by Analyzing the Problem ~ Determining the Best Research Method(s) ~ Collecting Data ~ Evaluating and Analyzing Data ~ Documenting and Reporting Outcomes ~ then...Repeat!
Bowie State University General Guidelines for Conducting Research
Cornell University Research Guides
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CRAFTING A STRONG HIGH SCHOOL RESEARCH PAPER
(RISE Research) - GOOGLE SCHOLAR'S ADVANCED SEARCH FEATURE
(UC Santa Cruz University Library)
- HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH QUESTION
(George Mason University)
- ONLINE WRITING LAB
(Excelsior University)
- RESEARCH AND CITATIONS
(Purdue OWL University)
- WRITING SUPPORT
(Empire State University)
Primary Sources
Primary Sources are immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic, from people who had a direct connection with it.
Primary sources can include:
- Texts of laws and other original documents.
- Newspaper reports, by reporters who witnessed an event or who quote people who did.
- Speeches, diaries, letters and interviews - what the people involved said or wrote.
- Original research.
- Datasets, survey data, such as census or economic statistics.
- Photographs, video, or audio that capture an event.
- Digital Public Library of America
- Library of Congress Primary Source Sets
Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources. They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis.
Secondary sources can include:
- Most books about a topic.
- Analysis or interpretation of data.
- Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.
- Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources).
Writing Styles and Citing Sources
Downloading a photo for a presentation?
Cite it.
Quoting a famous author or your best friend?
Cite it.
Sharing a game-changing statistic from a brochure or an Infographic?
Cite it.
Every time you use someone else's intellectual property*, you MUST identify the source of that piece of information or creative work. It's okay if you don't know everything, just be truthful about using someone else's work to complement your own work. This includes images or graphics generated by AI.
Major Citation Styles
Each academic discipline has its own rules for how to cite sources for a project, and you should ask your teacher what they prefer. If you don't know, just follow the best practices defined by the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychology Association (APA).
- APA (American Psychological Association) is used by Social Sciences, such as Psychology, Linguistics, Sociology, Economics, and Criminology, Business, and Nursing.
- MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used by the Humanities such as English Studies - Language and Literature; Foreign Languages and Literatures, Literary Criticism, Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies.
- CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style) is generally used by History, English and the Fine Arts.
- IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Style is often used in all branches of Engineering, Computer Science, and other Technological Fields.
Explore APA Style for Beginners to Get Started!
Purdue University Writing Lab - MLA Style Guide
*Intellectual Property - a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.
Citation Tools:
TMC Library databases provide CITATIONS with all articles, (such as Gale, in Context), but if you are utilizing a book, interview or other source of information, try one of these free citation makers.