FYWB 1119: Crossing Borders: The Americas

Welcome! This page highlights key resources for the  FYW Crossing Borders: Americas research project, including the following:

• Slides and handouts for the library workshop
• Reference sources to find background and contextual information on your topics and the approaches you might be bringing to your research
• Places to search for books in print and online
• Databases for locating articles, including scholarly and peer-reviewed articles
• Resources for citing your sources and writing
• Tips to to help keep textbook costs down
• Remote library services

If you would like assistance identifying additional resources, search terms or strategies, please schedule a research consultation with your personal librarian.

Image: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; JEB (Joan E. Biren)

Things to think about when getting started with a research project or a critical conversation in your writing praxis:

• Think of a topic or question that you're really curious about, something that really compels you. 

• Write down some keywords and phrases that come to mind. You can use these to search. Be open to the possibility of new keywords, and try out different combinations!

• Explore backgrounds and contexts. Reference sources can help you with concepts and terms, and they can also lead you to other relevant sources.

• Search for books and articles on your topic. Carefully skim each source---including the synopsis, abstract, table of contents, and/or index--- to assess how relevant and useful it will be to you.  Put back books or articles that aren't useful.

• Document and cite your sources as you go along - this will make the paper-writing process much easier!