Essay Writing

There are lots of places to find information. Many students are tempted just to use Internet sites because they are easy to find and usually have easy to understand information. While there is nothing wrong with Internet sites (unless they are unreliable,) you should use information from many types of sources.

Books – Most topics have been written about in books. Books can be found in libraries (school or local), in stores, and even online. (Here is a good website with many online books.) Generally, books have accurate information. The drawback to using books is that they are kind of long, and you are probably busy and/or lazy. In this case, look for an index or chapter listing to help narrow your workload. If possible, instructors like to see at least one print book used as a source.

Reference Books – These usually have basic information (or more in-depth information, if it is a specific reference book). They are good for beginning research, or to get more specific information about part of your research. These often cannot be checked out of the library, so if you use these, remember to write down all the info you need for your Works Cited page to avoid having to make another trip to the library. These are reliable sources, and instructors like to see them in your works cited page.

Periodicals/Journals – These are also very informative. Instructors really like to see these used as sources also, because they are almost always written for an academic audience. You can look up journal articles through databases at your school or library.

Websites – I have another writeup on choosing reliable sources, which I recommend reading if you use a website. Good websites are written without bias and have accurate information. If you are not sure if the information is accurate, you should not use the website. Also, use websites sparingly, as using only websites make you look like you tried to take the easy way out of your research. However, websites can have accurate and up-to-date information. Try newspaper sites, government (.gov), or educational (.edu) sites.

Newspapers – These can be accessed online or in print and have lots of useful information such as dates, important news, history, and current events.

Pamphlets – Depending on your topic, you can sometimes find pamphlets with condensed information. I have used medical and government pamphlets in my research papers. These are usually simple to understand. However, I would not use one as a main source unless it is very reliable.

An Expert – If you can, interview someone who is knowledgeable on your topic. If you’re writing about history, interview another professor or someone who works at the museum. If you can contact the author of a book your are using, he or she might be willing to let ask a few questions. Generally, people who write books or are very knowledgeable about your topic like to share their knowledge. Also, interviewing can help you confirm things you think are true, or find facts that you cannot find anywhere else.