It depends...
(Click on image to enlarge)
As shown in the image above, information is created, recorded, and distributed various different mediums at different times.
The event occurs and…
Within minutes or hours - you can find info on Social media platforms – such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, etc.
Good for: short personal reactions, opinion, announcements
Within hours, a day – you can find info in Newspapers, news sites, TV, Radio – such as cnn.com, BBC radio, New York Times, etc.
Good for: current or local info, facts, viewpoints, breaking news
Within a week to a month – you can find info in Magazines or Trade journals – such as Time, People Magazine, Wired, Education Week, etc.
Good for: summaries of info, some analysis for general public or specific profession
Within 6 to 8 months later and continuing – you can find info in Peer-Reviewed scholarly journals - such as like Nature, Journal of American Medical Association, etc.
Good for: deep analysis of specific topics in academic research
Within 1 year later and continuing – you can find info in Books and Films – such as non-fiction, biographies, documentaries, etc.
Good for: thorough, comparative coverage of a topic history, complexity
Within 2 years later and continuing – you can find info in Reference Sources – such as encyclopedias, textbooks, atlases, manuals, etc.
Good for: broad overviews, key issues, statistics, topic specialized vocabulary
Image source: all images here created by GRC librarians
1: Monster:
2. Lens/ Metaphor/ Conversation:
3. Key issues raised in Primary Text
We use keywords to search library tools or the web. Keywords are search terms that describe the specific concepts or issues of your assignment theme and/or topic.
Put phrases in quotes:
Ex: "covid 19"
Combine keywords with Boolean operators "AND" and "OR" to get more relevant results.
Ex: Use "AND" to combine terms to narrow and focus your search (vampires AND disease)
Ex: Use "OR" to combine terms and broaden your search (germ OR disease OR illness OR infection).
Strategize both broader and narrower keywords to help you find relevant info and to help you find and focus your exact topic:
Write down keywords you find in your reference and other sources!