Sources: Summary

When you do research for an assignment, there are many sources you can use to find information. These include:

• Books
• Magazines & Newspapers
• DVDs & Videos
• Web sites

You use each source to find different kinds of information.

• Use books when you are looking for background or historical information.
• Books give you extensive information on one broad topic or many closely related topics.

When you want to find books for an assignment..

What you use: a search tool called the library catalogue.
When you use it: to search for the titles of books in the library.
How you get to it: from the library's home page.

Magazines & Newspapers

• Use magazines & newspapers when you are looking for current information.
• Articles in magazines & newspapers provide detailed information on a specific topic.

Magazines
Magazine articles can be long or short and often contain personal opinions.
Magazine articles usually include many pictures and advertisements.

Newspapers
Newspaper articles provide information on current events.
They are short and focus on one topic.
Newspaper articles provide facts but no personal opinions (except in editorials.)

When you want to browse through a whole magazine:
Sometimes, you want to browse through a whole magazine or newspaper. This can be useful when:

• you are trying to decide on a topic
• you are trying to understand current issues & events

What you use: a search tool called the library catalogue.
When you use it: to search for the titles of magazines & newspapers in the library.
How you get to it: from the library's home page.

When you already know your topic:
Sometimes you already know your topic, and you are told to find information from magazine or newspaper articles on that topic.

What you use: a search tool called an article database.
When you use it: to search for articles on a specific topic.
How you get to it: from the library's home page.

DVDs & Videos

• DVDs & videos can provide information on a whole range of topics.
• Information from these sources is worth reviewing if you want to add a different perspective to your research.

When you want to find a DVD or video for an assignment:

What you use: a search tool called the library catalogue.
When you use it: to search for the titles of DVDs or videos in the library.
How you get to it: from the library's home page.

Web Sites

• Use websites on the Internet to search for information on a whole range of topics.
• Be aware that useful websites can be difficult to find and may contain inaccurate or outdated information

You can also go to the "Subject Guides: Business" page to see more websites.

Finding Web Sites:

What you use: a search tool called an internet search engine.
When you use it: to find additional information for an assignment.
How you get to it: by typing in the address of the search engine.