Research, when done well, is a messy, creative, and powerful process that ultimately leads to learning and the creation of new knowledge.
An important part of the research process is turning your interests into topic ideas. A good topic should:
You have already chosen the art work you want to explore for this project. Before you do any further research, think about it again. Use the following questions to guide you.
Why did you choose this art work?
What do you already know about it?
Jot down anything that comes to mind, including names, dates, places, terms. Don't worry about total accuracy at this point, since you can always verify later.
What do you still need to find out?
Consider what you still need or want to know. Articulate this in the form of questions, and use these questions to guide your research.
Please feel free to get in touch with a librarian at absolutely any stage of your research process.
We encourage you to schedule a research consultation with Ashley Peterson (apeterson@smfa.edu, 617-369-3653) for an in-depth discussion about your research goals.
For quicker questions, please feel free to stop by the Library's front desk (located on the third floor of the B side of the Fenway building). You can also email or call the front desk at library@smfa.edu/617-369-3650.