Module 1: Defining the Information Need

Topics and Choice of Sources

Your topic will determine the types of sources you will use for your research. For example:

• Topic: Slavery was not the primary cause of the U.S. Civil War
• Sources: Historical and scholarly resources would be useful
• Where can you find these? Books, academic journals, some websites

• Topic: Florida's current water shortage
• Sources: Current and local sources would be useful
• Where can you find these? Newspapers, websites

The following pages will describe the characteristics of books, periodicals, and websites so you know how to choose the best sources for your topic.