1. Introduction to RefWorks
Lovejoy Library
Library Instruction
Updated 1/10
Before the instruction session begins, you should have the library’s homepage ( displayed. Students should also be logged on to the computers and viewing the library’s homepage as well.
Students will be working along with you during this instruction session. They should be doing the steps that you demonstrate throughout the tutorial.
Handouts for students: Introduction to RefWorks

2. RefWorks: What is it?
RefWorks is web-based bibliographic software package that enables you to:
Organize your research
Include citations while you write your paper
Build a bibliography in a variety of formats
Import references from many data sources
Create bibliographies in different document formats (Word, RTF, HTML, etc.)
Explain what RefWorks is using the points cited above.
Today we are going to be focusing on importing references and creating bibliographies.
Objective: By the end of this lesson you will be able to export references from Academic Search Complete and build your own bibliography.

3. Tell them that they may follow along on their own computers or watch.
Encourage students to ask questions at any time or to stop you to explain further if need be though you will have to continue moving through the lesson to complete it.
Today we will be learning how to use RefWorks. RefWorks is available through the Lovejoy Library’ website under Help – Research Help -- RefWorks.
Explain that before using RefWorks to create a bibliography, students must import records from a library database. Give them some context to put this statement in such as, “Let’s say you are working on a research paper about school vouchers. Your instructor wants you to produce a bibliography with the paper. RefWorks will allow you to create the bibliography. First you will need the articles you will cite in the bibliography.”

4. Select Find – Journals, Magazines and More – eResources and Databases by Subject – General – Academic Search Complete.
Explain that we will be performing a search in a general database such as Academic Search Complete to get the references we’re going to import into RefWorks.

5. Type in “school vouchers” and click “search.”

6. Students should “add” the first 3 records to their folder using the “add to folder” function in each article record.
Please note that your results screen will look different from this one. Just add the first 3 records to the folder.
Click on either “folder view” (in the right column) or “folder” (at the top of the page).

7. Explain that this is where students can view the records they’ve added to their folder.
Select “All.”
Click the “export” icon.
*Make sure students are on the same page that you are using their own search results. Ask if anyone is having any problems or needs any help.

8. Select “Direct Export to RefWorks.” Click “Save.”
They can opt to have their items removed from their folder after saving if they prefer.

9. If students do not already have a RefWorks account and are not logged in before beginning the export process, they will be directed to this screen where they either log in or create a new account.
*At this point, ask who in the class already has a RefWorks account. For those who do, have them log in and wait. Those who don’t (probably most of the class) need to click on “Sign up for an Individual Account.”
*Give students 1-2 minutes to complete process, walking around the room to make sure they are completing steps and answering any questions if need be.

10. This is the screen new users will use to create their account
This is the screen new users will use to create their account. It is very straight-forward. Remember, you won’t be doing this, you will instead be logging in using this info:
Login name: instruct
Password: specialist

11. Note that records will automatically be imported from Academic Search Complete into RefWorks once they create an account or log in to an existing one.
Click on “View last imported folder.” Have students do the same.
Make sure everyone is on track. Ask if anyone has any questions or needs help.

12. Students will see the list of references they imported.
*Note to students that these references are in a generic, un-named folder.

13. Next we are going to create a new folder so that we can organize our references.
*Click on “Folders” then “Create New Folder.” Students should be doing the same.

14. Name the new folder according to class, research topic or other organizational tool. Click “OK.”
You should name your new folder “school vouchers.” Everyone should get the “Successfully created the folder” message. Click “OK.”
*Stop and make sure that everyone is on the same page.

15. The folder has been created
The folder has been created. Now we need to put our references in the specific folder.
You and the students should place the records in the newly created folder by placing a check mark by the records.

16. Use the drop menu under “Put in Folder…” to select the folder to put references in.
Click “OK” when it asks you if you are sure you want to put the references in the selected folder (this screenshot not included here).
Click “OK” when it says “Successfully put 3 reference in school voucher folder” (this screenshot not included here).

17. Click “View” then “Folder” then “school vouchers” while having students do the same.

18. Explain that there are 3 different ways to view your references.
Note the “Switch to:” drop box.
The current view is the standard view. Explain that this gives users the title and all source information for the record. Go to the projection screen or use your cursor to point to the different components of the record such as title, author, source, publication date, etc.
Use the drop box to illustrate the other two views.
*Students may see another of the 3 views.

19. This is the “One line cite view
This is the “One line cite view.” The most basic information about the record is shown here.

20. The Full View gives users much more information about the record
The Full View gives users much more information about the record. The records contains all bibliographic info, including an abstract explaining the article content and a link to the full-text of the article if SIUE provides access to the original full text.
*Go to the projection screen and point out the various features available through the Full View (title, name of periodical, publication year, volume and issue).

21. Click on the link to the full text of the article to demonstrate
Click on the link to the full text of the article to demonstrate. Have students do the same.
Students can then close out of the window to return to RefWorks.
***Tell students to make sure they don’t close RefWorks itself; only the window with the full-text article!!!

22. References can also be added to RefWorks manually
References can also be added to RefWorks manually. Click on “References” and “Add New Reference.”

23. This page operates as a basic form
This page operates as a basic form. Users can fill in the fields with any info they have about their article.
Students can also view citation formats used by SIUE by using the dropbox at the top of the screen. Under the SIUE option have them select “MLA 6th edition.”
Explain to students that this is the citation style for that record. By selecting this format, RefWorks will automatically “check” the fields required by the MLA 6th edition format style. Point these checkmarks out to the students.
Students should select the folder that they want the reference created in. You should select “school vouchers.”
*Have students fill in the fields using above information. They can copy what you type on the screen.
Author: Vergari, Sandra
Title: Politics of Charter Schools
Periodical, Full: Educational Policy
Pub Year: 2007
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Reference can be saved by clicking “Save Reference” at the bottom of the screen.

24. Point out that RefWorks will tell you when the reference has been saved.
Have students view the manually entered reference by clicking on “View” in the top right corner. You should do the same.
*Note to students that the reference can also be found in the folder that they created it in.
*Refer students to the RefWorks Database Guides that provide specific import instructions for library databases:

25. Part II: Creating a Bibliography in RefWorks
One of the best features about RefWorks is its ability to create a bibliography (also know as works cited or references) according to different citation style formats (MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian).

26. To create a bibliography, click the “bibliography” tab from any screen within RefWorks.

27. Select “Format a bibliography from a list of references.”

28. First we need to select the citation style
First we need to select the citation style. Professors/instructors will tell students what citation style to use when creating their bibliography.
Use the drop box next to “output style” to see the citation styles offered by RefWorks.
Note that RefWorks has a separate category of citation styles that are commonly used by SIUE instructors.
Select “MLA 7th Edition”

29. RefWorks allows users to create bibliographies in different file types such as HTML, Word for Windows or Word for Mac.
Select the “Word for Windows” option.

30. Explain that we have the option to include ALL of the references in our RefWorks database or references from a specific folder.
Select the radio button and use the drop box next to the 3rd option “References from Folder.”
Select the “school vouchers” folder.

31. The “school vouchers” folders should now be selected as well as the radio button to the left “References from”
Click “Create Bibliography.” Have students do the same.

32. Screen will show that document is being processed
Screen will show that document is being processed. “Bibliography created with # references” appears when process is finished.
***If you or the students have the pop-up blocker ON then the directional box will not appear. IF THIS DOES NOT POP-UP STUDENTS CAN CLICK THE “DOWNLOAD IT” LINK. THEY WILL THEN GET THE POP-UP BOX WITH THE OPTIONS TO “OPEN WITH…”
If you aren’t prompted to save or open the bibliography, it might automatically be downloaded to the My Documents –Downloads folder under the Start menu.
Have students open their bibliography with Microsoft Office Word.
Also point out that they can the bibliography to themselves.
Click “okay” within the pop-up box to download and open the bibliography.

33. You and the students should now be viewing your bibliographies.
Point out to students that they can now handle this file like any other Microsoft Word file (print, , etc.)
Also emphasize that because RefWorks only reads the information from the database record they should always double check the bibliography for typos or spelling errors.

34. RefWorks Wrap-up
Exporting references from Academic Search Complete to RefWorks
Creating and naming folders to organize references
Creating a bibliography
Conclusion: Summarize the main three points of the RefWorks tutorial. “To summarize, today we learned:”
How to export references from the Academic Search Complete database into RefWorks;
How to create and name a folder to organize our references;
How to create a bibliography.
Ask if anyone has any questions or would like you to go over any sections of the lesson.
Encourage students to use RefWorks when creating their next bibliography.
Encourage students to visit the Information Desk
Thank them for coming!