Resources

Research Skills

Research, an essential academic skill, is the act and process of gathering and reading information that helps you learn more about an essay topic. 

Every writer has a research system that was initially borrowed from someone or cobbled together from various people. If you’re in university or college and you want to get better grades, it’s time for you to come up with your own.

These resources show you the most effective strategies for basic essay research. If you’re confused about what we mean by “scholarly databases,” we’ve also put together a short list of some common ones, including open-access directories and library webpages that allow you to login and view restricted articles.

If you need one-on-one help, your university or college might offer tutoring through a writing centre or a similar service. If you're a student at one of our partner institutions, you can visit our Help Centre for more information about academic services (advising, tutoring, and more). Institutions also have reference librarians who can help you navigate the library system to find what you need. 

• University and college libraries in Manitoba

  Librarians can provide coaching and helpful assistance for finding quality information. Contact a librarian if you are unable to find an answer through the regular channels. 

  • Assiniboine Community College - Library
  • Brandon University - John E. Robbins Library
  • Red River College - Library
  • The University of Winnipeg - Library
  • Université de Saint-Boniface - Library
  • University College of the North - Library
  • University of Manitoba - Libraries

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• Online resources for research skills

  • Information Literacy, a tutorial by the University of Idaho, features seven modules explaining what information literacy is, why it's important, and how to apply those skills. The modules include searching, locating, evaluating, and sharing information.
     
  • Harvard's Guide to Using Sources is a required text for students enrolled in an introductory course on university fundamentals at Harvard, but it is available online for anyone to read. The information is divided under seven major topics, including locating, evaluating, integrating, and citing sources; avoiding plagiarism; and explaining why source use is important in your university education. 
     
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison's Research Tips & Tricks is a handy resource for those who are new to using libraries and dealing with sources. While some of the information is designed for students using one particular library, the tips are general enough to be relevant elsewhere. 
      
  • This Digital Literacy Resource from Cornell University focuses on the skills you need to be a savvy navigator of digital information. For students who are new to academic writing, it is an indispensable introduction to what you need to know about using the web for a research project.
     
  • University of Toronto's Reading and Researching catalogues eight handouts on how these skills contribute to academic writing. 

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• Books on research skills

  Find any of these titles at your preferred retailer or library. Linked titles are openly licensed textbooks that can be found online at no cost. 

  • Research Strategies: Finding Your Way Through the Information Fog by William Badke
  • Strategies for Successful Writing by James Reinking et al.
  • How to Research by Lorraine Blaxter et al.
  • Information Literacy by Zorana Ercegovac
  • The Research Process by Gary Bouma et al.
  • The Handbook to Literary Research by Delia de Soussa Correa and W. R. Owens
  • The Process of Research Writing by Steven Krause

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• Online databases for academic sources

  Note: With some key exceptions, most scholarly databases require a login. Access these databases through your university’s or college’s library to take full advantage of each catalogue.

  • Google Scholar
  • Project MUSE
  • JSTOR
  • Directory of Open-Access Journals
  • Manitoba Education Library
  • ProQuest
  • PubMeb
  • EBSCOhost
  • Encyclopedia Britannica
  • Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

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• Online repositories for non-academic sources

  Non-academic publications can be useful for certain kinds of assignments, but you need to be more diligent about checking for credibility. Instead of relying on Google, try targeting specific places that are known for publishing quality non-fiction articles. 

  • The Electric Typewriter
  • The New Yorker
  • The Atlantic
  • Harper’s Magazine
  • Classic British and American Essays and Speeches
  • Bartleby.com
  • OpenCulture
  • Essays from Project Gutenberg
  • Aeon Magazine

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