The best way to start a research project is by reading overviews of your topic. An overview is a text that summarizes the basic facts about your topic.

Examples of overviews:

• Encyclopedia articles
• Textbooks
• Study guides

An overview is just a starting point. Don't cite overviews. The reason why we don't cite overviews is that they don't provide any original information -- they only give you a condensed summary of what other people have said about the topic. Instead of citing an overview, read the overview and write down clues that you could search for on our website or the in library databases, to find sources that you can cite.

Clues you might find in overviews:

• The names of important people, places, and things.
• Other sources that you could cite (listed as citations).

Is it okay to use Wikipedia for a college research project?

Yes, but only as a starting point.

Wikipedia is an excellent starting point. You should use Wikipedia! Read Wikipedia articles, and write down clues that you find. Follow the citations at the bottom of Wikipedia articles. Use these clues to find sources you can cite.

Don't cite Wikipedia.

Don't assume that everything you read in Wikipedia is true. Treat Wikipedia as a collection of valuable rumors. Follow up on each rumor, using trustworthy sources, to see whether the rumor is true.

Use reference books to find:

• Background material to help familiarize you with your research topic
• Bibliographies suggesting additional resources for your research topic
• Definitions of unfamiliar terms

The reference books are located in the on the first floor of Simpson Library.

Some reference books are available as eBooks, in the Simpson Stacks, or freely available online.