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ENG110: College Composition: Research

Research

Library resources provide you with reliable, easy-to-find information you can use for your course assignments and projects.

If you need assistance with a library resource, please Ask A Librarian!

Library Resources

Library databases provide access to full-text articles from journals, magazines, and more.  The databases listed below cover a wide variety of topics.

Search Ebook Collections


Search the Library Catalog

Reference collections provide facts, background information, and can help build your vocabulary and knowledge base around a topic. 

The LibGuides below contain resources specific to each program. If you are having trouble finding a topic or sources, these will provide additional support by program.

Research on the Web

When researching on the open web, you should:

  Carefully evaluate any information you find or intend to use in your research

  Ensure the information is accurate, timely, and agenda/bias-free

  Pay close attention to all details, including:

- When it was last updated 

- Who is responsible for the website


Open web resources can provide valuable information when researching a topic. Due to the nature of the open web, it is important that you carefully evaluate what you find. The resources below are recommended when using the open web.

CRAAP test

Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose

Learn how to use this assessment tool when conducting research

A word of caution: There is potential for error, distortion, and bias in any source. Respected experts disagree with their peers, new discoveries call once-established “facts” into question, and widely-accepted theories are later proven false. It can be both useful and necessary to engage with sources that do not pass the CRAAP test, especially if you critically evaluate the source and address its limitations. So keep an open mind, acknowledge uncertainty, practice skepticism, stay informed about new developments, and seek understanding of multiple perspectives related to the subjects and ideas that matter to you. (NWACC Library)

Primary Research

Primary research or field research is:

  • Research you conduct yourself
  • Usually in the form of interviews, surveys, and questionnaires
  • Can be especially helpful if your research topic is about a local issue or an issue without much established research

If you are going to use primary research in your assignment, use the links below to assist you in getting started.

Finding multimedia for your assignments

Search Openverse to find Creative Commons-licensed and public domain content like images and videos. Review attribution requirements for content used

About Creative Commons (CC) Licenses

"Creative Commons licenses give everyone from individual creators to large institutions a standardized way to grant the public permission to use their creative work under copyright law. From the reuser’s perspective, the presence of a Creative Commons license on a copyrighted work answers the question, What can I do with this work?"

You can also find images and other multimedia in most journal and reference databases. Make sure to generate a citation for any content used.