LIBRARY RESEARCH PAPER PLANNER
copy and use as often as necessary to help you plan your research approach
GATHER
READ/SKIM
ANALYZE/EVALUATE
CHECK-OUT/COPY USE
DUE DATE: _______________________________________________________________________
INTERIM DUE DATES: draft _______ working bibliography: _____ other: _________
COURSE: __________________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT/THESIS STATEMENT: ______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
IDENTIFY RESOURCES
Figure out a reasonable TIMELINE for your project & plug dates in your calendar/planner!
5% Planning the project; 5% Preliminary topic selection; 15% Topic formulation and focus;
30% GATHERING INFORMATION; 5% Preparing to write; 40% WRITING & REVISING
Type of assignment/project:  research paper
 speech  some very specific info like
statistics  other: ________________________________________________________________
Length: number of page, minutes, citation style, etc.: _______________________________
SPECIFIC RESOURCE TYPES - Via the Library Homepage library.indstate.edu
If specified by professor, how many of what kinds of library materials:
____ general books = Library Catalog
(Books)
____ reference sources (print=Online Catalog;
online=Library Home Page  FIND
Electronic Resources  Reference EBooks –or All Databases A-Z 
Oxford Reference Online – or FIND 
SycaMORE Research
____ magazine articles = Electronic
Resources  General & Multisubject  LexisNexis Academic, – or
FIND  SycaMORE Research
____ journal articles Electronic Resources 
General & Multi-subject  LexisNexis
Academic, – or FIND  SycaMORE
Research, or subject-specific journal
indexes
____ newspaper articles = Electronic
Resources  News  LexisNexis
Academic or other newspaper-specific
indexes
____ Research Guides including Library &
Internet sources = Find >> Subject
Guides
Other: _____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
For each source you use, generate a list of terms you are going to enter as subject and/or
keyword. Print/email out your results. Internet-based materials usually include print,
download and/or email options.
BOOKS = Library Catalog [fusion.indstate.edu –OR- fusionplus.indstate.edu]
Term: _______________________________________ Results (quantity): ___________________
Term: _______________________________________ Results (quantity): ___________________
Notes: ______________________________________ ______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
The ISU Library provides access to thousands of journal articles available as online full-text
found within DATABASES. Additional articles are available via Interlibrary Loan requests.
Access DATABASES via the Electronic Resources portal’s BLUE box at
library.indstate.edu/eresources.html. Access the contents of SPECIFIC JOURNAL ISSUES
via the GOLD portal box. Browse additional titles under broad and specific SUBJECTS via the
GREEN box.
Look at results to generate additional search words/phrases. Email your results. Download
your citations into EndNote. Download PDF articles into the ISU Student Skydrive or a flash
drive. Back everything up!
ARTICLES LEVEL 1 GENERAL/ALL TOPIC: Academic Search Complete, Communication
& Mass Media Complete; JSTOR
Term: _____________________________________Term: __________________________________________
Results/Notes:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLES LEVEL 2 NEWS: Newspaper Source; LexisNexis Academic >> Search the News;
McClatchy-Tribune Collection; National Newspaper Abstracts (covers New York Times,
USA Today, and Wall Street Journal); Historical Newspapers: New York Times
Historical/Wall Street Journal Historical ________________________________________
Term: _____________________________________Term: __________________________________________
Results/Notes:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLES LEVEL 3: SPECIALIZED INDEXES [choose from Electronic Resources
Databases by Subject [blue box] – includes ALL DATABASES A-Z: ________________
Term: _____________________________________Term: __________________________________________
Results/Notes:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Getting Help in Using the Indiana State University Library
LIBRARY SUPPORT
 Subject Liaison Librarian – set up consultation appointment:
library.indstate.edu/about/staff/subjects.asp
 Ask a Librarian – chat with reference desk librarian during daytime library hours
library.indstate.edu/tools/reflive.html
 Email A Reference Librarian library.indstate.edu/tools/questions/
 Interlibrary Loan illiad.indstate.edu/logon.html; see FAQ for Distance Learners
library.indstate.edu/about/units/ill/DISTANCE_ILL_Handout_2011.pdf
 Research Guides: libguides.indstate.edu/
Public Services Department, Reference/Instruction, Indiana State University, Terre Haute IN
August 2015; Library home page: library.indstate.edu