Legal Administration: Communications Doing Library Research at Durham College

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The Research Process Step One: Identify and Articulate Step Two: Find Information Step Three: Analyze and Evaluate Step Four: Present

Legalization of marijuana Canadian cases precedents trends Other courntries history commentary laws

Hint: Use a CREDIBLE SOURCE to get an OVERVIEW of your topic.

Encyclopedia of Criminology Entry: Marijuana “Even though support for the legalization of marijuana is at its highest level in 30 years, recent initiatives by several states to legalize small quantities, reduce penalties for possession, or provide treatment instead of jail time have all failed” (p. 952)

Legalization of marijuana Canadian cases precedents Legalize small quantities Treatment vs. jail time Reduce penalties for possession trends Other courntries history commentary laws

Legalization of marijuana Canadian cases precedents Legalize small quantities Treatment vs. jail time Reduce penalties for possession trends Other courntries history commentary laws Plan where to get resources… Legal database Legal articles book Legal database Magazine articles

Thesis Statement/ Research Question Have a “So What?” statement BEFORE you begin your in-depth research Recent trends to legalize possession of marijuana have failed due to ongoing health concerns related to marijuana use.

At the end of Step One Mind-map ◦ What you need ◦ Where you will get it Draft thesis statement ◦ Key search concepts

Step Two: Gather information Ready? Set? GO!!!

You need… one statute one case one article from a newspaper one article from a magazine two articles from a Web site (that is credible) one book

Go ahead…Google it!

Can you find??? one statute one case one article from a newspaper one article from a magazine two articles from a Web site (that is credible) one book

You need… one statute one case one article from a newspaper one article from a magazine  two articles from a website (that is credible) one book

Library Catalogue words to describe each book ◦ How many pages does a book typically have? Search fields:  Title  Author  Publisher  Subject terms We are NOT searching:  Chapter titles  Summaries  Contents

Library Databases do not use the same language as Google! Need to use Boolean Searching…

Translating a Google Search Google: legalization of marijuana in canada Library: legalization AND marijuana AND canada Better Library Search : Marijuana or pot AND legalization or decriminaliz* AND canad*

Boolean Searching: A Summary Use AND to connect unique concepts ◦ legalization AND marijuana Use OR to connect synonyms ◦ legalization OR decriminalization Use * to include all endings on a root word ◦ Canad* Use “ “ for phrases ◦ “small quantities”

Boolean Searching: A Game! Practice your Boolean Searching by playing “Snakes and Ladders”… 20Snakes%20and%20Ladders/index.htm 20Snakes%20and%20Ladders/index.htm

You need… one statute one case one article from a newspaper one article from a magazine  two articles from a website (that is credible)  one boo k

Finding Articles Use a periodical index or database? Tool used to find articles in journals or newspapers Usually an online data base that we search using keywords. Tells us what's been published where. When we search an index, we get citations. These citations describe an article and tell us where it was published.

Using the Library Website to Search for Articles

Search: legalization and marijuana and canada

The Library Login Page

This database is mostly AMERICAN. We have databases with more Canadian articles…

News and Current Affairs Subject Guide

You need… one statute one case  one article from a newspaper  one article from a magazine  two articles from a website (that is credible)  one boo k

Finding Cases and Statutes: Hints Find your books, articles and websites FIRST! They often will name statutes, cases, etc. and then you can go look for those specifically. Much easier than keyword searching cases and laws.

Step Two: Wrap-Up Use the right access tool to find the type of material you need ◦ Books = catalogue ◦ Articles = index ◦ Cases, Statutes = legal database Remember to TRANSLATE your Google search

Step Three: Analyzing and Evaluating Who is the author? What are his or her credentials? Is it the correct jurisdiction? When was it published? Is there a possible bias/agenda? Does it support what you need? What type of resource is it (newspaper, magazine, journal?)

Step Four: Presenting and Citing Sources Use McGill Legal Citation style to put together a list of legal references.

Sample Bibliography

To help you.. Kathleen Stewart’s guide to legal citation style The official book, which is actually called the “Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation.” In the reference section at KE 259.C

Because plagiarism is big trouble Durham Policies and Procedures – Penalities for academic honesty matters First Offence Minimum – mark of ‘0’ in test, assignments and/or loss of one alpha grade in course. Maximum – withdrawal from course. Second Offence Normally results in dismissal from the college for balance of academic year. Third Offence Normally results in dismissal from college with no possibility of readmission for three years.

More Help… Reference Desk x2390 Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-9pm Friday 8am-4:30pm Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm Nicole Doyle x2962