Introduction: -- Is this guide for you?
And Finding a Topic that Works
Research with Background from Books
Research with Databases for Articles
And don't forget to Cite your Sources.
Have you looked atStep by Step for Finding Books and Using Popular Databases,
Also try Step by Step with Social Science and Public Policy Databases.
And Step by Step with Science and Technology Databases.
Back to Handout Central
Try the Chemistry Glossary.
For a science-related paper, project, or presentation, having the right topic can make all the difference. You may have a list of topics that your professor created or inherited. The topics may be too large. They may not feel interesting. You may not understand or care about any of them.
Fortunately, you can usually fix these problems. Even with a fixed list of topic choices you can:
READ FOR EXPLORATION. library databases, credible news sources, and A-list blogs provide current and engaging articles aimed at you.
Reading for exploration may seem like pointless, extra work, but the first article that fits your topic, will be your first source. Many articles on the web have links to additional material (more sources), and you will have a topic you love and about which you feel confident.
To read for exploration:
Science is News -- almost without a PaywallThe New York Times' paywall limits free articles to five per month. Fortunately, you can read an unlimited number of articles by Step by Acccessing the New York Times ProQuest Browse Science News on Academic Search Complete. (Start at the library web page when searching at home.) Browse New Scientist on Science Direct. (Remember to open the library web page in another tab, when using this link off campus.) National Public Radio (NPR) also covers Science. And PBS' Nova covers science as current events, and also offers transcripts. Science Means BusinessLook for science topics in the Wall Street Journal, available full text from ProQuest. Read about science/technology in the Economist Follow link to ABI-Inform and either browse or search within the magazine. The latest technology is big business at Technology Review. Note: this magazine now has a three article paywall. You have unlimited access at ProQuest Central. |
Gadgets and GizmosWhat's next? Read Wired. Wired requires that you disable your ad-blocker on their pages.Wired also has a three article paywall. You can read unlimited articles at ProQuest Central. Make sure you start at the library web page first. The A-List blog, Gizmodo has not just articles, but links to more info. Gizmodo asks you to turn off your ad-blocker on their pages. For more technology news, try The Register. Science as HistoryWhy not take a Science Odyssey? Explore science' past in the BBC Science Archive. Curlie offers link on both the the history of technology and the history of medicine. Science is Animals, Plants, and the EnvironmentA solid environmental choice, E! Magazine. Feast your eyes on sthe the National Geographic. For animal lovers, there is National Wildlife. The link only takes you to the current issue. Make sure to print, download, or bookmark any articles you find. Explore the natural world in Natural History. And find more natural science ideas with BBC Earth. |