Step 1: Define your topic

It might seem obvious, but the first step is to make sure you understand the topic.

1) Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question to help you develop a search strategy.

2) Think about why the topic has been offered. Is it controversial ? complicated? what makes the topic interesting?

Step 2: Gather background information

Use dictionaries and encyclopaedias to find definitions and background information. Articles from specialized subject encyclopaedias are authoritative and often substantial.

Browse a list of:

• reference resources for Art

Step 3: Think about what information you need

• How much information do you need? Lecturers often give guidelines on the number of sources you should use.
• Do you need current information or is older material relevant? Sometimes you might need both, as you might have to give both the historic background and the current thinking on a topic.
• Do you need primary sources that give an original account from the time and place, or secondary sources which are interpretations of someone else's work?

If you don't understand what you have to do for an assignment, ask your lecturer, your tutor or contact the Academic Skills Centre.

Step 4: Find books

Search the Library catalogue:

• Check for ARTH books on High Demand
• Use Keyword , Title or Subject searches to find additional material.
• When you find a useful title, click on its subject headings to find books on similar subjects.
• Browse the library shelves in the classification sequence for Art
• Use the Browse Alphabetically By LC Call Number option in the catalogue, eg. ND 1106 (New Zealand sculpture).

Step 5: Find journal articles

Use Multisearch to find journal articles on your topic, using the keywords you identified earlier. You can also go directly to specific databases that may have relevant information by using the Recommended databases links on this page.

 If you can't find the kind of information you want in these databases, ask a Subject Librarian - we can help you find the right database and the right keywords to use.

Step 6: Find online information

The internet has a lot of information, but not all of it is useful or reliable. Consider the source of the page. Suitable sources are

• a government department
• an academic or university department
• a research institute

Use the Advanced Search features of Google to restrict your search to results from reputable sources.

Do not use articles directly from Wikipedia, although you can use its content (eg keywords or phrases) to search other sources

Use Google Scholar to find academically reliable journal articles. Add University of Canterbury Library to your Library Links (in the Setting menu) and you will get full text links to any resources we have access to through our library subscriptions.

Step 7: Analyse your sources

Learning how to determine the relevance and authority of a given resource for your research is one of the core skills of the research process.

For more information see: Evaluating information sources

Step 8: Write your assignment

For help with putting your thoughts and ideas together into a formal academic structure contact the Academic Skills Centre

Step 9: Cite your sources

Make sure you have included details of the sources of any information you have used. Referencing is important because it:

• acknowledges other people's words, opinions and ideas.      
• directs readers to the original sources, if they want to find further information.
• improves the credibility and authority of your own work.
• helps you to avoid plagiarism. 

UC’s Art History, Art Theory and School of Fine Arts programmes uses the Chicago Notes and Bibliographies as it’s preferred referencing style. Your Subject Librarian can help with using this style.

Read more on:

• citing your sources