Getting Started - SPCH 101 - Lai - Winter 2025 - Research Guides at Rio Hondo College

Library Quick Links

Library Home Page
College Home Page
OneSearch (Library Catalog)
Databases
Databases (AccessRio)
Research Paper Topics

Below is a sample of the login screen for off-campus access to library databases. Use your AccessRio login and password.

Understand the assignment

What does your research require?

A description and or definition of the topic?
A history of the growth or development of the subject matter?
Analysis of issues related to the topic?
Taking a stand on an issue and providing persuasive arguments?
Statistics, case studies, photos, biographical information?
When is it due?

What types of resources must you use?

Books, including encyclopedias
Journals vs. magazine articles
Internet websites

How are you supposed to cite your sources of information?

MLA, APA, other citation style?

Sources for Background Reading

Have an idea for a topic and need more information about it? Try searching it in Gale eBooks (Gale Virtual Reference Library), an online database for subject encyclopedias and reference books that can give you background information and topic overviews.

Don't have an idea for a topic? Explore our list of potential Research Paper Topics.

Identify keywords and concepts

Keywords and concepts describe the main idea(s) of your topic and enable you to focus your research.

Based on your assigned texts, jot down the terms that you identify as the keywords and main concepts.
Use background information from reference sources such as the Gale eBooks (Gale Virtual Reference Library) to find additional keywords and synonyms.
Group the keywords by concept.
Identify synonyms of your keywords (e.g., synonyms for "teenagers" are adolescents, youths, and children).

Library Hours

SPRING 2025 HOURS

January 25 to May 22
Monday to Thursday: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
(checkouts end at 8:45 PM)
Friday: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
(checkouts end at 2:45 PM)
Saturday to Sunday: CLOSED