In this class you're being asked to investigate music in relation to another topic, like education, films, war, health, and culture. This guide is designed to help you find information to explore your topic, whatever it may be. 

The Finding Background Information page will introduce you to some reference sources that will be helpful for learning basic, factual information about your topic. This is usually a good place to start when you're less familiar with a topic (like when it's not your major). 

The Using OneSearch page will introduce you to our main library search engine, talk about what you'll find there, and give a few pointers about searching. 

The Using Databases page will point you to some subject specific databases that may be helpful for you. 

There are additional pages on Evaluating Information, Citations, and Presentation Tips to help you work with sources and put together your final assignment. 

Source notes are helpful not only for your professor, but for you as well! Taking notes while you're reading is proven to help you absorb and process information better. 

While you're reading, keep a notebook next to you and write down what you think is the question the author is trying to answer in the article. Make note of that answers she seems to be proposing, as well as what you think the main idea or thesis of the article is. Write down whatever questions the article raises for you as you read, including terms and ideas you're not familiar with. 

The source notes you turn in should tell your reader what the main idea of the source is, and provide a summary of the evidence the author has used to prove her main idea.