Starting a paper

The first few stages of what librarians call the "information search process" are known for making people (a) freak out, (b) feel stupid, and (c) freak out again for being so stupid. Unfortunately, these are normal responses to have, but you can rest assured that these feelings are likely to fade as you start your research. Here are several simple techniques to help you stop freaking out and start working on your paper:

• Browse the library shelves. There's no need to brainstorm your paper topic out of thin air. Looking at current magazines in the library (SF or OAK), or pulling books off the shelf in your general subject area is a good way to start generating ideas.
• Let your research shape your topic. If you're not finding any information on the topic you started out with (or if everything you're finding is totally boring), you should probably consider changing your topic to something you can find information about (or something that's more interesting).
• Find one good book or article, and use its citations. Ever wonder what those long lists of citations at the end of a book or article are there for? They're there to tell you where to look next. The authors may have already done a lot of your footwork and identified the best resources on the topic. Use them.