What's Your Topic?
What's your topic? Let me know in this google form: https://forms.gle/ZPna4BdGhnn75i7r5
Background Research to Find a Topic
Getting started with picking a topic can be a challenge, and one way to make it easier is to start by reading. You can think of a general subject that interests you and do some background reading on that subject. As you read, you can narrow the focus of what sparks your curiosity.
One way to get started with initial background reading is by browsing news sources and branching out from your regular go-to sources. Cal Maritime Library provides access to several news options. Let's try out a few of them from the box below.
Browse Current News
Cal Maritime subscribes to the the following digital editions:
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New York TimesBrowse the World, Business or other sections for ideas of current topics. To register for full access, go to www.nytimes.com/passes & log in with your Cal Maritime email for an academic pass. Passes must be renewed annually.
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Journal of Commerce This link opens in a new windowNews and in-depth analysis for shipping and logistics industries. Comprehensive market data, including trade lane volume, trade statistics, schedule reliability & pricing information.
To request articles from the back issue archive, contact the library at library@csum.edu. -
Science This link opens in a new windowLeading journal of original scientific research, science news, and commentary. Off campus access requires login.
Finding a Topic
Try out some of these library subscription databases and websites to read more about current events and issues impacting the world.
Library Subscription Databases for current events & global topics
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CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowExpert summaries of current issues: scientific, political, and more (Library Subscription)
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CountryWatch This link opens in a new windowComprehensive and regularly updated reports on every country (Library Subscription)
Websites for current events in science, society and government
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Science NewsExplore news from all fields of science, written for non-scientists (free access)
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ProConRead pro and con arguments for and against controversial topics (free access)
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Congressional Research ServiceThis collection provides the public with access to research products produced by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) for the United States Congress. The products in this collection were created for the sole purpose of supporting Congress in its legislative, oversight, and representational duties. (free access)
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Pew Research CenterThe Pew Research Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan and nonadvocacy organization that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, and other data-driven social science research. Topics covered include: U.S. politics and policy; journalism and media; internet, science and technology; religion and public life; Hispanic trends; global attitudes and trends; and U.S. social and demographic trends.
Online Reference Books for background information and historical context
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Britannica - Academic This link opens in a new windowCombining Encyclopædia Britannica plus Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, magazines and periodicals, Britannica - Academic provides reliable sources needed when conducting thorough collegiate research (Library Subscription)
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Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new windowFull text of over 100 reference books on all subjects (Library Subscription)
Research in Steps
1. Plan: You need a topic and some good keywords
2. Search library databases. Your topic determines which databases you should search.
3. Read what you find.
4. Extract new search terms and a better understanding of your topic.
5. Repeat until you've got what you need. You should get closer with each iteration.
Spinning your wheels and getting nowhere?
See your librarian to adjust your research strategy.
Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping Tools
Try one of these tools to create mind maps with an online account that will let you save and edit them in the future. They support free accounts that allow for a limited number of saved mind maps in your account.