Finding resources for your dissertation: Classics & Ancient History Nicola Conway October 2011

Aims of the session To help you: Identify, find & evaluate relevant resources for your dissertation Use the library effectively, and make the most of our services and resources Know who to contact for further help

Format of the session What the session will involve: A demonstration of quality academic resources for your subject A chance for you to begin searching for information for your dissertation An opportunity to ask for help and advice when researching

4 steps to finding information1. Identify keywords 2. Decide where to search 3.Search 4. Review results

1. Identify Keywords Identify keywords from your topic: “The literary and social significance of food in Roman satire ” Advanced searching techniques: Synonyms: significance OR importance OR value : satire OR humour OR irony Truncation: litera* to locate literary, literature etc. Phrases: “Roman satire” Wildcards: humo?r to locate humour or humor Joining Words: AND, OR, NOT

Task One p.3 of handout Identify keywords from the topic you are researching, if you can’t think of one use one of the following: –How effectively did Greek vase painters tell the story of a myth? –Examine Alexander the Great’s role in the history of Greek numismatics?

Task One p.3 of handout (2) OR AND numismatics “Alexander the Great” “Alexander of Macedon” “Examine Alexander the Great’s role in the history of Greek numismatics?” currency AND OR “Alexander III of Macedon” coin* GreekGreece

2. Decide where to search Questions to ask yourself: What information do you need? –Overview of a topic, theory, idea, concept? Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries (online and in print) –Background information? Textbook/E-book –Information on the latest research? Journal Article Conference Paper News item

2. Decide where to search Do you have a specific reference? –Yes Library Catalogue –No Online resource Have you looked at all the information resources available for Classics & Ancient History? –

Subject Specific Support:

3. Search OR AND numismatics “Alexander the Great” “Alexander of Macedon” “Examine Alexander the Great’s role in the history of Greek numismatics?” currency AND OR “Alexander III of Macedon” coin* GreekGreece

Searching the library catalogue Can be searched using a variety of methods –Author/Title (combined) for known item –Keyword –Classmark and Subject search Searches for print and electronic resources but does not search within them Can save searches and results

Online Journal Databases Search a wide range of journal articles Some are full text –JSTOR Some only provide bibliographic information –Web of Knowledge –L’Année philologique –Need to use ConneXions to see if Durham subscribes to the content No single database will cover everything

E-books and News Items E-books : –Cambridge collections online: cross-searchable database which includes the Cambridge Companions Complete CollectionCambridge collections online –Myilibrary: collection of e-books from a range of publishers.Myilibrary: News Items –Infotrac custom newspapers - online full text archive of UK broadsheetsInfotrac custom newspapers

Using Internet Resources (1) Remember to evaluate information on the web Anyone can be a web author There are few controls over what is posted on the web Is material peer-reviewed or edited? Is the information up to date? Check for bias or an agenda

Internet Resources (2) Perseus Digital Library - full text primary and secondary sources for the study of ancient Greece and RomePerseus Digital Library Google Scholar – search engine for academic resourcesGoogle Scholar –uses Durham ConneXions button

Obtaining items outside of Durham Visiting other universities e.g. Newcastle and Northumbria –Check their catalogues: Access to other libraries – SCONUL Access Scheme – Document Delivery Service –

4. Review your results Are your results useful? –Do you need to change your keywords or search in a different database? –Use one record to find similar useful resources Evaluate the quality of your sources –particularly if they are found on the internet Keep references – yourself useful references

References and Bibliographies Always keep a full and accurate record of your information sources Use the Library Catalogue and online databases to e- mail references Make sure you refer correctly to other authors within your work Avoid plagiarism

Task Two p.6 of handout Use the keywords you identified in Task One to search for information in: –An online database –An e-book –Any other information resource listed in the handout

Where to get further help Help and Information Point on Level 2 Online enquiries form: – Subject information pages: – Academic Support Team: –Nicola Conway – Classics & Ancient History

Any Questions Nicola Conway: