Research & Writing: Research Overview

How to Read a Text Critically - From Harvard Library, this provides a step-by-step guide on how to read a text critically. Following these steps will help you to absorb more information for a longer period of time.

The research process is not a straight line - it can twist and turn as you learn more. Don't be afraid to follow up on information that interests you - it's easier to write about a topic if you're interested in it!

Additional tips:

• Be willing to tweak your vocabulary - authors may use different words that mean the same thing (i.e. illustrator, artist, draftsman, etc.)
• Read article abstracts to ensure they will work for your paper - don't just grab the first articles that include your search terms

Not all of the information on the internet is reliable. Some things to think about: 

• Who is the author? Do they have a background or education in the topic?
• Where is it published? Is the site reputable?
• Does it cite its sources? Information isn't created in a vacuum; does it acknowledge others' research?
• How in-depth is the information? Is it well written?
• Can you detect a bias in the writing? What is that bias?
• When was it written? Does the age of the information make a difference in how accurate it is?

Some good places to find reliable information:

• Museum websites
• Educational sites (.edu or Khan Academy / smarthistory, etc.)
• Government sites (.gov)
• Reputable news sources (New York Times, Washington Post, etc.)
• Primary sources (artist interviews, etc.)

For more information, see the guide on Evaluating Information (including images).