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Renewable Energy

Use this guide to get started researching renewable and alternative energy

Key Search Words

Use the words below to search for useful information in books and articles.

  • biomass / biofuel
  • geo-thermal energy
  • green energy
  • hydropower / hydroelectricity
  • solar power / solar energy
  • sustainable energy
  • wind power

 

 

Start Learning About Your Topic

Background Reading:

It's important to begin your research learning something about your subject; in fact, you won't be able to create a focused, manageable thesis unless you already know something about your topic.

This step is important so that you will:

  • Begin building your core knowledge about your topic
  • Be able to put your topic in context
  • Create research questions that drive your search for information
  • Create a list of search terms that will help you find relevant information
  • Know if the information you’re finding is relevant and useful

If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in. Once you click on the name of a database, simply enter your student ID (without the W) and your six-digit birth date.

Top Picks:

All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff. 

Create Research Questions to Focus Your Topic

  • What is renewable energy?
  • What are the different types of renewable energy?
  • What is the difference between renewable energy and clean energy?
  • What is the history of renewable energy in the United States?
  • What are the advantages of renewable energy?
  • What are the disadvantages of renewable energy?
  • What are the economic arguments for and against renewable energy?
  • What are the political arguments for and against renewable energy?
  • How should research into renewable energy be funded?
  • Should the U.S. government provide subsidies or tax breaks to renewable energy companies?
  • Based on what I have learned from my research, what do I think about the issue of renewable energy?

Using and Finding Books

Why Use Books:

Use books to read broad overviews and detailed discussions of your topic. You can also use books to find primary sources, which are often published together in collections.
 

Where Do I Find Books?

You'll use the library catalog to search for books, ebooks, articles, and more.
 

What if MJC Doesn't Have What I Need?

If you need materials (books, articles, recordings, videos, etc.) that you cannot find in the library catalog, use our interlibrary loan service.

Recommended books

Find Articles in Library Databases

All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.

If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in. Once you click on the name of a database, simply enter your student ID (without the W) and your six-digit birth date.

Find Videos on Renewable Energy

Find videos and documentaries about renewable energy in Films on Demand. These film resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff. If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in, using your student ID (without the W) and your six-digit birth date.

Type renewable energy in the search box to access videos on this topic.

Find Web Resources

Use Google Scholar to find scholarly literature on the Web:

Google Scholar Search

Browse Featured Web sites:

Cite Your Sources

Your instructor should tell you which citation style they want you to use. Click on the appropriate link below to learn how to format your paper and cite your sources according to a particular style.