Starting Research and Finding Sources Comm Arts II Mr. Wreford

Starting Your Research Read the assignment carefully (or talk to the instructor. Read the assignment carefully (or talk to the instructor. Know the required length. Know the required length. What form should it take (print or electronic)? What form should it take (print or electronic)? When is it due? When is it due? Determine your audience, circumstances, and purpose. Determine your audience, circumstances, and purpose.

Starting Your Research Working with Different Kinds of Sources. Working with Different Kinds of Sources. Print and Online Sources Print and Online Sources Consult a Style Guide. Consult a Style Guide. Primary and Secondary Sources. Primary and Secondary Sources. Popular, Trade, and Scholarly Sources. Popular, Trade, and Scholarly Sources.

Starting Your Research Analyzing Your Research Assignment and Choosing a Topic. Analyzing Your Research Assignment and Choosing a Topic. How detailed are the instructions? How detailed are the instructions? How much is the assignment worth in terms of the final grade? How much is the assignment worth in terms of the final grade? How long is the project supposed to be? How long is the project supposed to be? How much other work is this instructor assigning at the same time? How much other work is this instructor assigning at the same time? How much advance notice did the instructor give? How much advance notice did the instructor give?

Starting Your Research Developing a Research Question and Planning Your Research. Developing a Research Question and Planning Your Research. Narrowing a topic by asking questions. Narrowing a topic by asking questions. Developing a research question and a working thesis. Developing a research question and a working thesis. Using a research question to plan research. Using a research question to plan research.

Starting Your Research Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Do you know how to use the library’s online catalog or card catalog? Do you know how to use the library’s online catalog or card catalog? Are you familiar with the electronic indexes and databases at the library? Are you familiar with the electronic indexes and databases at the library? Do you know how to access the library’s online catalog and electronic databases from your own computer or from computers on campus? Do you know how to access the library’s online catalog and electronic databases from your own computer or from computers on campus?

Starting Your Research Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Do you know how to find books and periodicals at the library? Do you know how to find books and periodicals at the library? Are you familiar with the kinds of reference books that might help with your research, including indexes, bibliographies, and annotated bibliographies? Are you familiar with the kinds of reference books that might help with your research, including indexes, bibliographies, and annotated bibliographies?

Starting Your Research Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Do you know what kinds of help the library’s reference librarians can provide? Do you know what kinds of help the library’s reference librarians can provide? Do you know the library’s interlibrary loan policies? Do you know the library’s interlibrary loan policies?

Starting Your Research Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Searching for Information Using Your Library’s Resources. Once you know all the types of resources you can access, the sheer number of options might appear overwhelming! Once you know all the types of resources you can access, the sheer number of options might appear overwhelming!

Starting Your Research Using the Library Catalog. Using the Library Catalog. Search by keyword (the title, subject words, author’s name, etc.). Search by keyword (the title, subject words, author’s name, etc.). Search by subject. Search by subject. Analyze your search results. Analyze your search results. If the search brings up too many entries, try narrowing the search in some way. If the search brings up too many entries, try narrowing the search in some way.

Starting Your Research Locating Materials in the Library. Locating Materials in the Library. Online catalog entry will give you the location where the source is shelved and the call number. Online catalog entry will give you the location where the source is shelved and the call number. Look for a map, chart, or online guide detailing the general location of different call numbers. Look for a map, chart, or online guide detailing the general location of different call numbers. Online sources are good, but books are still the best sources (usually). Online sources are good, but books are still the best sources (usually).

Starting Your Research Consulting Reference Librarians. Consulting Reference Librarians. Ask plenty of questions. Ask plenty of questions. A reference librarian can also help you locate: A reference librarian can also help you locate: Government documents. Government documents. Audiovisual materials. Audiovisual materials. Special collections. Special collections. Vertical files. Vertical files.

Starting Your Research Using Reference Books. Using Reference Books. Encyclopedias: Look for specialized encyclopedias rather than general ones. Encyclopedias: Look for specialized encyclopedias rather than general ones. Disciplinary guides: These provide lists of reference tools for specific subject areas or disciplines. Disciplinary guides: These provide lists of reference tools for specific subject areas or disciplines. Specialized reference works: Biographical dictionaries, indexes, almanacs, yearbooks, atlases. Specialized reference works: Biographical dictionaries, indexes, almanacs, yearbooks, atlases. Bibliographies: Useful lists of published research. Bibliographies: Useful lists of published research.

Starting Your Research Using Indexes and Databases. Using Indexes and Databases. Index: A guide to articles in periodicals or in book collections or to material related to a specialized subject. Index: A guide to articles in periodicals or in book collections or to material related to a specialized subject. Database: A searchable collection of reference material, either in print or electronic form. Database: A searchable collection of reference material, either in print or electronic form.

Starting Your Research Choosing Indexes and Databases. Choosing Indexes and Databases. You are unlikely to find all the information you need in one place. You are unlikely to find all the information you need in one place. Most will be organized by subject area (discipline). Most will be organized by subject area (discipline). Check more than one. Check more than one. There are hundreds; probably only a few will be helpful. There are hundreds; probably only a few will be helpful.

Starting Your Research Agriculture and Life Sciences Agriculture and Life Sciences Design Design Education and Psychology Education and Psychology Engineering and Technology Engineering and Technology Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities and Social Sciences Management, Business, and Economics Management, Business, and Economics Medicine and Health Multidisciplinary Natural Resources Physical and Mathematical Sciences Textiles Veterinary Medicine

Starting Your Research Searching Indexes and Databases. Searching Indexes and Databases. AND limits your search. AND limits your search. NOT limits your search. NOT limits your search. OR expands your search. OR expands your search. Quotation marks limit your search. Quotation marks limit your search.

Starting Your Research Once you have a great source, look at the citations mentioned. It may give you some great leads. Once you have a great source, look at the citations mentioned. It may give you some great leads. We will meet in the library and put all of this information to good use! We will meet in the library and put all of this information to good use!