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SOC 3 (Hirose) - Cultural and Racial Minorities: Getting Started

1. Explore a Topic

a. Search for current events or recent news related to sociology or society on the web, in a magazine, or on the news.

Examples:

New York Times

The New Yorker

Time magazine

CNN.com

b. Browse library databases that cover current issues and can help you get familiar with an issue or refine your topic . They make a great starting point when you have a general idea of a research topic, but you still need to narrow it down.

Examples:

c. Browse the table of contents, topic outlines, and indexes of subject encyclopedias for ideas. (See #2, below.)

2. Consult Encyclopedias and Reference Sources

  • Use reference books for background information, broad overviews, and summaries.
  • The reference collection includes general and subject dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographies, directories, almanacs, and atlases.
  • Subject encyclopedia articles are signed by contributors who are experts on the topic.
  • Many also contain bibliographies or lists of recommended titles for further research.
  • Reference books cannot be checked out from the library but may be photocopied.
  • Use the LPC Library Catalog to find other encyclopedias by conducting a keyword or subject search.

Recommended Reference Books & eBooks

eReference

Off-Campus Access to Databases +

To use the library's online databases from off-campus, you will need to log in.

Use your MyPortal login credentials (W# and MyPortal password). 

For more information about MyPortal login details, visit MyPortal Information.

Finding eReference Video