Research Skills
Find, judge and use sources without drowning in databases.
How to Find Peer-Reviewed Sources for a College Assignment
A search strategy that produces usable, credible sources quickly — including how to tell whether an article is genuinely peer reviewed.
How to Approach a Difficult Research Paper
From an unfocused topic to a defensible argument: narrowing scope, building an evidence base and structuring a longer paper.
How to Understand a Research Question
Break a research question into its variables, population, relationship and scope so you know exactly what evidence would answer it.
Primary vs. Secondary Sources Explained
What counts as a primary source in different disciplines, when secondary sources are the right choice, and how to use both credibly.
Confused by your assignment instructions?
Upload them and get a clear, plain-English breakdown of what your professor is actually asking for.
Analyze my assignment — free →