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COM101/111: Introduction to Research & APA Citation

searching for sources

What is a source?

A source is any material that provides information about your research topic including facts and data. Examples of sources include websites, newspaper articles, journal articles, books, and videos. 

How do I know if a source is good to use for my assignment?

Not all sources are credible and reliable to use in college-level coursework. The Evaluating Sources section provides information on how to identify reliable sources.  

How do I find sources?

An important step when you start searching for sources is figuring out your search strategy. This usually involves thinking of the best search words or keywords to use. The Keywords section provides an introduction to identifying keywords for your research topic.

It's also useful to know where to search for information, such as the library website or online. This will depend on your assignment requirements and the types of sources you are allowed to use for your assignment. See the Types of Sources and Library Search sections for more information