English 202: Bridgers: Find & Research an Issue in Your Field

You will need to identify different types of writing in your field, and investigating the website of your professional organization(s) is a great way to gather examples.

Use Google to search for professional organizations in your field. For example, since I'm a an academic librarian, I might search "professional organization academic librarians." Once you've identified an organization or two, visit their websites and look for publications they produce. They may publish journals or magazines or have a book press. What topics do you see covered? Write down keywords that interest you, as you can use them to search for sources later.

Once you've identified a source, you need to find scholarly/peer reviewed sources that explore possible solutions. The library pre-pays for thousands of scholarly and credible articles and books that you won't find on Google.

You can search an interdisciplinary collection of articles and e-books using this first search box (EBSCOHost), or search a collection which focuses specifically on your discipline using the second search box.

The library's book collection is another solid place to find resources. Look for items marked "ebook" or "internet resource" if you are off campus and cannot come to the library to check out a print book.

Consensus on major issues in all fields can change regularly. As you begin your research, think of all the research on the topic you choose as a conversation. You, as you become a scholar in that field, will join the conversation.