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Between Worlds: Your Assignment

Generation Gap

What You Need to Know

Understanding Your Assignment

Before you begin looking for information you should make sure you understand your assignment. Some good questions are:

  • How many pages?
  • How many sources?
  • What kinds of sources?
    • Books
    • Articles
    • Websites
  • What format?

Your professor is your best resource to answer these questions.

image of student with her hand raised

Research Basics - Step by Step

Breaking Down The Research Process    

The following outline gives a simple and effective strategy for finding information for a research paper and documenting the sources you find. Depending on your topic and your familiarity with the library, you may need to rearrange or recycle these steps. Adapt this outline to your needs. We are ready to help you at every step in your research.                                         

  1. Choose a topic - or have one assigned
  2. Understand your topic
    • Background reading
    • Consider a main focus
    • Refine your topic 
  3. Search Sources
  4. Write your paper – Informative, Analytical, Argumentative, Critical
  5. Cite Your Sources

Talk to a Librarian

Need Help 

 

The Cerritos College Librarians can help you with your research in a variety of ways:

Librarians are available during library hours to answer your questions by phone or chat.
(562) 860-2451 x2425

Cerritos College Library | 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 | 562-860-2451 | Reference ext 2425 | Circulation ext 2424