The summer is a great time to catch up or experience an interesting course that can otherwise be hard to fit into your schedule. The compressed time frame allows you to make a lot of progress quickly, whether you’re in the full twelve week session, or one of the intensive six week sessions. But it’s no walk in the park! Summer courses are every bit as rigorous as their equivalents in the fall and spring, with just as much work to do. The first summer session ends on June 27^th. So if you’re taking a Summer I class, this is like the last three whole weeks of classes for a normal semester. And what that means is, now is the time for research! Time is running out!

Think about where you’d be in a fifteen week course. You probably have decided on topics for your final papers or projects, and have a good idea what you want to argue. You just need credible scholarly material to back up or to test your assertions. So you would do what you always would – visit the library, or use the library databases, to collect what you need. But with just a week left, it doesn’t allow as much time if you need to use services like inter-library loan.

Comprehensive full text databases like JSTOR or ProQuest Central are likely to be your first stops. Ebook databases like eBrary and EBSCO eBooks can also be helpful, but be sure to use the indexes or search function to narrow in on the sections you want. Your workload is probably already full enough without adding a few 300 page books to read cover-to-cover! Use CQ Researcher for thorough analysis of your subject. Opposing Viewpoints will let you see multiple perspectives on your topic quickly. And we have plenty of other databases focused on specific disciplines. But whichever you choose, start today.

Even though the semester is compressed, it is always best to give your research plenty of space to breathe. You need to allow yourself enough time to read and synthesize everything you find! You will not be well served if you start on the evening of the 26^th. Remember, just because it’s a summer course, it’s no less serious than one you’d take in the fall or spring. It requires your best effort – and together, we can do it!

Need help? The library always stands ready to help you with your research. Ask us at iueref@iue.edu!