Research Skills Tutorial

Find two relevant reference sources from the Empire State College Online Library, and use them to get some background information on your topic. 

1. For the first reference source, provide:
   1. Title
   2. Article/chapter title (if applicable)
   3. Publishing information including name, location and date; page numbers (if applicable)
   4. URLs or permalinks (if applicable) -  here are database-by-database instructions on how to locate permalinks.
2. For the second reference source, provide:
   1. Title
   2. Article/chapter title (if applicable)
   3. Publishing information including name, location and date; page numbers (if applicable)
   4. URLs or permalinks (if applicable)
3. What did you learn about your broad topic from your reference sources? You can write a paragraph, use outline format, or link to a mind map. 
4. Now that you know more about your topic, you might want to narrow it down by zeroing in on a particular aspect or detail. If you do not want to narrow your topic, explain why not. If you do, what is your new, narrower topic?
5. Do you think your topic is narrow (specific) enough yet? If so, why? If not, explain how you can narrow it down further/ make it more specific.
6. Restate your narrow topic as a research question.
7. Restate it as a thesis statement.

Please note: If you need to request accommodations with content linked to on this guide, on the basis of a disability, please contact Disability Services by emailing them at Disability.Services@esc.edu.  Requests for accommodations should be submitted as early as possible to allow for sufficient planning. If you have questions, please visit the disability services website http://www.esc.edu/disabilityservices.