King’s College London Pre-Sessional Programme King’s College London Pre-Sessional Programme Research Skills: Searching for academic sources

Outline Searching for academic texts: Searching for academic texts: Search strategies/Google Scholar Search strategies/Google Scholar Using the King’s library site Using the King’s library site Online databases Online databases Final points: SFX, Use of Athens Final points: SFX, Use of Athens Task – searching for electronic articles Task – searching for electronic articles

Search Strategies: some general tips Sometimes you know what book, article or author you want to find Sometimes you know what book, article or author you want to find E.g. Your tutor mentions the author Jennny Jenkins E.g. Your tutor mentions the author Jennny Jenkins Sometimes you just know the general subject area you want to search Sometimes you just know the general subject area you want to search E.g. You have to write about English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) E.g. You have to write about English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) These two processes influence each other These two processes influence each other Google scholar is often a good place to start Google scholar is often a good place to start Notice ‘related articles’ with each link and ‘key authors’ at the bottom Notice ‘related articles’ with each link and ‘key authors’ at the bottom

Searching by topic: general or specific? If your search gives too many hits with many that are irrelevant, you need to narrow the search (e.g. use more specific key words) If your search gives too many hits with many that are irrelevant, you need to narrow the search (e.g. use more specific key words) If your search gives only a few hits and they are all relevant, it means you have probably missed some useful results and should widen your search If your search gives only a few hits and they are all relevant, it means you have probably missed some useful results and should widen your search

Searching King’s library website There are various search facilities on the King’s website: There are various search facilities on the King’s website: Library catalogue (simple, multi field, advanced) – generally only finds books available in the library Library catalogue (simple, multi field, advanced) – generally only finds books available in the library Databases or quick search – you will need to choose a subject area (quick search is easier to start) Databases or quick search – you will need to choose a subject area (quick search is easier to start) Generally good for electronic texts Generally good for electronic texts E-Journals – usually only useful if you know the title of the journal you are looking for (e.g. article from Google Scholar) E-Journals – usually only useful if you know the title of the journal you are looking for (e.g. article from Google Scholar)

Other useful online databases: JSTOR JSTOR Ingenta Connect Ingenta Connect Wiley Interscience Wiley Interscience Informaworld Informaworld PubMed PubMed Web of Knowledge Web of Knowledge ScienceDirect ScienceDirect Sometimes the King’s website or Google Scholar will take you to these sites to access articles Sometimes the King’s website or Google Scholar will take you to these sites to access articles These often have advanced search options and allow you to export/download citations (more on this later) but the ‘buttons’ can be hard to find (e.g. Athens/Institution login) as each site ahs a different layout These often have advanced search options and allow you to export/download citations (more on this later) but the ‘buttons’ can be hard to find (e.g. Athens/Institution login) as each site ahs a different layout Usually offers pdf or HTML versions of articles Usually offers pdf or HTML versions of articles

Final points SFX/ ‘Find it’ button SFX/ ‘Find it’ button This will take you to texts to download electronically (if available) when searching on King’s computers or through the King’s library website This will take you to texts to download electronically (if available) when searching on King’s computers or through the King’s library website Athens Athens Keep your password with you (you can change it at and click on ‘my Athens’) – you will need it for many electronic articles Keep your password with you (you can change it at and click on ‘my Athens’) – you will need it for many electronic articles BE FLEXIBLE – you often need to use more than one approach to find what you want BE FLEXIBLE – you often need to use more than one approach to find what you want

Task – Find an electronic article Topic – English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Topic – English for Academic Purposes (EAP) E.g. Pre-sessional courses, plagiarism E.g. Pre-sessional courses, plagiarism Key author – Ken Hyland Key author – Ken Hyland Try searching for topic, author, or both Try searching for topic, author, or both Google scholar Google scholar King’s library (catalogue/databases/quick search/e-journals) King’s library (catalogue/databases/quick search/e-journals) Online databases (JSTOR/ Ingenta Connect/ Wiley Interscience/ InformaWorld/ Web of Knowledge/ ScienceDirect – google should take you to these) Online databases (JSTOR/ Ingenta Connect/ Wiley Interscience/ InformaWorld/ Web of Knowledge/ ScienceDirect – google should take you to these)

Conclusion Feedback from task Feedback from task Easy or difficult? Easy or difficult? Problems and how they were (or could be) overcome? Problems and how they were (or could be) overcome?