LibGuides: American Language and Culture Program (ALCP): Getting Started

About Reference Resources

Why	for an overview of your topic. These items usually contain background information and bibliographies (which direct to other sources).
Where	1st floor reference collection, reference databases
How	begin with a broad topic search

Explore Your Topic

CQ Researcher
The CQ Researcher explores a single 'hot' issue in the news in depth each week. Topics range from social and teen issues to environment, health, education and science and technology.

There are 44 reports produced each year including four expanded reports. Every 12,000-word report is written by an experienced journalist and features comments from experts, lawmakers and citizens on all sides of every issue. Numerous charts, graphs and sidebar articles -- plus a pro-con feature, a chronology, lengthy bibliographies and a list of contacts -- round out each report.PDF files are available for full issues dating back to January 1996; for issues published since January 2001, PDF files are in color.
Gale eBooks
Gale eBooks is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

Develop a Search Strategy

Find a topic
Refine your topic
Develop a research question
Brainstorm by creating a concept map and search terms
Add boolean operators to optimize your search
Use what you learn to continually refine your search

For more information, visit our Topics / Terms page.

Concept Mapping

Concept mapping is a creative and visual way to help you explore and refine your topic. It can also help you determine subtopics and to brainstorm search terms. Click on the link below to learn about concept mapping.

Learn about concept mapping through this step-by-step explanation.

Handout for creating your own concept map

Research Guides

American Language and Culture Program (ALCP): Getting Started

About Reference Resources

Explore Your Topic

Develop a Search Strategy

Concept Mapping