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STHS 201: Alchemy, Astronomy, and Medicine Before 1700

STHS201 Research @ Collins Library

Use this guide to get started with your research for STHS 201!

Ancient Persian Waterclock from Qanats of Gonabad (via Wikimedia Commons)

The research process is just that: a process. A good researcher isn't someone who puts the right words in the search box the first time; it's someone who uses each search to improve the next one. By being aware that you'll circle back and perform tasks more than once, use more than one tool, and look at more resources than you'll actually use, you'll be better equipped to plan how long your research takes and pick the best sources. Remember to use the citations of a good source to find more sources, as if you were building a chain.

Whenever you're reading an article or book, or as you get oriented with an encyclopedia or other reference work, keep an eye out for citations to interesting sources. A well-cited scholarly source on your topic is like a ready-made search, leaving you with more energy to spend on using those sources.