Skip to Main Content
Research Guides
? Ask Us / FAQS

Religion Research Guide: STRATEGIC RESEARCH TUTORIALS

This guide is designed to aid undergraduate students in their studies in all areas of religion.

LIBRARY TUTORIALS FOR LEARNING OUTCOMES - Ariana Varela

This guide maps the learning outcomes included in the request-a-class form to USC Libraries' tutorials. Each page lists a different outcome with videos and tutorials that can be used in lieu of or supplement synchronous instruction. Tutorials are available on the USC Libraries website under "Help."

Introduction to Searching at USC Libraries

This tutorial covers how to select a research topic and develop related keywords, and how to do an initial search in the library catalog.

Start

CRITICALLY EVALUATING YOUR SOURCES - Ariana Varela

Learning Outcome:

  • Evaluate information for credibility, relevance, and/or other factors such as timeliness
Evaluating Sources

This interactive tutorial guides students through evaluating sources based on their research needs. (Best with Firefox browser.)

Start
Identify Peer Reviewed Articles

This video describes the peer review process that many scholarly journals use, and how to identify peer-reviewed articles when searching.

Watch
What does the "peer review" filter mean?

This video covers some of the same ground as the previous one, but focuses specifically on what the "peer review" filter in the Libraries' catalog does and does not do - and when it makes sense to use it.

Watch
Information Cycle

This video takes students through different types of information sources, how they are produced and how much time it takes to do so, and how to use different types of sources to create a full picture of a topic.

Watch

INTRODUCTION TO USC LIBRARIES - Ariana Varela

Learning Outcome:

  • Identify how library/information systems are organized in order to access relevant information

A Virtual Orientation to USC Libraries

This tutorial will help you learn how to: access and utilize USC research libraries, search and find the right collections and materials for you, and ask a Librarian for research help. Estimated Time to Complete Tutorial: 15-20 minutes.

Start

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE SEARCHING - Ariana Varela

Learning Outcomes:

  • Develop keywords and search terms from a research topic 
  • Develop iterative search strategies for locating relevant sources
Introduction to Searching at USC Libraries

This tutorial covers how to select a research topic and develop related keywords, and how to do an initial search in the library catalog.

Start
Getting Started on a Research Paper (Using Divergent Thinking)

This video explains how students can use divergent thinking to interpret an assignment creatively and select a meaningful, authentic topic of interest.

Watch
Developing Keywords

This interactive tutorial covers the concepts of keywords, using keywords to broaden and narrow a search, and using them to discover different perspectives.(Best with Firefox browser.)

Start
Crafting a Good Research Question

This interactive tutorial allows students to choose one of six research topics to explore the process from thinking of a broad topic to crafting a specific research question, including drawing on one's own existing knowledge, and using reference sources. (Best with Firefox browser.)

Start
Customize Google Scholar for USC Libraries

This short video describes how to locate USC Libraries-owned materials through the Google Scholar interface.

Watch
Search with Boolean Operators

This short video demonstrates how to search using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to create effective searches.

Watch

DEVELOPING YOUR RESEARCH TOPIC - Ariana Varela

Learning Outcome:

  • Develop and/or refine research topics

Crafting a Good Research Question

This interactive tutorial allows students to choose one of six research topics to explore the process from thinking of a broad topic to crafting a specific research question, including drawing on one's own existing knowledge, and using reference sources. (Best with Firefox browser.)

Start

CITATIONS AND SCHOLARLY CONVERSATIONS - Ariana Varela

Learning Outcomes:

  • Track a scholarly conversation using formal and/or informal references

  • Demonstrate understanding of the purpose of citation

 

Critical Reading Strategies for Research (Essential Questions)

This video draws on educational psychology and instructional design theory to give students concrete strategies for engaging deeply and meaningfully with sources by asking “Essential questions” about the readings.

Watch
Information Cycle

This video takes students through different types of information sources, how they are produced and how much time it takes to do so, and how to use different types of sources to create a full picture of a topic.

Watch
What is plagiarism? What is citation?

This interactive tutorial explains the purposes of formal citation practices in an academic environment, and how those practices help you to avoid plagiarism, using examples and including checks for understanding.

Start
Citing to Avoid Plagiarism

This interactive tutorial covers how to identify when a citation is needed, and how to recognize the difference between paraphrasing and quoting, in order to avoid plagiarism. It uses examples and includes checks for understanding.

View