Starting Your Research Library Instruction Spring 2006 Mary S. Woodley

What is the assignment? PPaper, Presentation, Annotated Bibliography? DDue date – when is the last date for ILL TTypes of publications?

Citation Style?  Ready reference available on the Web  General works in the Oviatt Library, search Subject heading Authorship -- Style manuals or Report writing -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.  Specific Style Guide, search Keyword: MLA style

Why Cite? Avoid Plagiarism -- To plagiarize means to:  Steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own;  Use (another's production) without crediting the source;  Commit literary theft;  Present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.  (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary definition of "plagiarize," retrieved June 20, 2005)plagiarize

CHOOSING THE BEST RESOURCE Information Need: Does your topic cover current events? Suggested Information Resources: Newspapers, magazines, Internet Do you need general information on a specific topic, written in a non-specialist style? Newspapers, magazines, Internet Do you need in-depth information on a specific topic, written for the college student and above by authorities in the field? Scholarly journal Do you need more detail and/or has the topic been written about for awhile? Books Do you need an overview, quick facts, statistics on a topic?Reference books, Internet

Basic Search Strategies: Words to Search by  Jargon  Keyword  Controlled vocabulary – Subject words/phrases

Think of different ways to express the same idea Indians California Daily Life housing Spanish culture Native Americans California Economic activities Mission Life Indigenous people California LegendsRanchos or pueblos Chumash (etc) Religion and beliefs Presidios

Basic Search Strategies: Putting concepts together Boolean operator and Venn diagrams serve as a visual expression of the Boolean operations Indian Economy Spanish Missions

Basic Search Strategies: Putting concepts together Boolean operator or Native Americans Indians

Truncation  Symbol used at the end of a word to retrieve variant endings of that word.  Allows you to search the "root" form of a word with all its different endings.  Broadens or increases search results. Truncation = OR Example: teen* retrieves teen OR teens OR teenager OR teenagers However: vio* retrieves violence, violent, but also violets, violin, etc.

Need a book? 1. Search the Library's online catalog. Try searching using the keyword search. 2. Write down the floor location of the book and the call number where the book will be found on the shelf

How Call Numbers Work

Need an article?  Popular magazines  Trade publications  Scholarly publications All three may be available in print or online or both

Types of Periodicals: Scholarly Journals  Authors are authorities in their fields.  Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or bibliographies.  Individual issues have little or no advertising.  Illustrations usually take the form of charts and graphs.

Types of Periodicals: Scholarly Journals  Articles must go through a peer-review or refereed process. Scholarly/academic articles that are read by academic or scholar "referees" for advice and evaluation of content when submitted for publication. Referees recommend to the editor/editorial board whether the article should be published as is, revised, or rejected. Also sometimes know as "peer-reviewed" articles.  Articles are usually reports on scholarly research.  Articles use jargon of the discipline.

Popular Magazines and Newspapers  Authors are magazine staff members or free lance writers.  Authors often mention sources, but rarely formally cite them in bibliographies.  Individual issues contain numerous advertisements.  There is no peer review process.  Articles are meant to inform and entertain.  Illustrations may be numerous and colorful.  Language is geared to the general adult audience (no specialized knowledge of jargon needed).

Internet Resources vs. Surfing the Web  Internet Resources include: Internet accessible databases and journals  Use a Web interface  Usually require subscription Exception: ERIC Wizard  Equivalent to print indexes and journals  Authoritative and reliable  Surfing the Web: Use free search engines  E.G.: Yahoo, Google, HotBot Critical evaluation required  Anyone can put up a Web page!

Evaluating Print & Electronic Resources Types of Web Sites: the url is a key.gov.edu.org.com Authority Content & Coverage Timeliness Accuracy Objectivity World Wide Web sites come in many sizes and styles. How do you distinguish a site that gives reliable information from one that gives incorrect information? Below are some guidelines to help.guidelines