EN 2211: Elements of Writing

M. Ephraim

Off campus?

Set up proxy to gain access to library databases off campus.

Background Information & Topic Exploration

Evaluate...

Evaluating Web Resources Checklist (PDF)

According to a study at Stanford, nearly half of all web site evaluators (46.1%) used visual cues, to assess a site's credibility. Move beyond what a site looks like...

Authority
Scope
Currency
Accuracy

Web Searching: Find keywords for searching library databases.

Sample google scholar search: "pop culture" OR "popular culture" OR "cultural icon" "reality TV" OR "reality television"
More web search engines

Seek out academic affiliated web metasites as well as specialized encylopedia's in the library catalog.

Popular Culture: Resources for Critical Analysis
Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (e-book)
Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Culture (e-book)

Campaign & Popular Culture Web Sites

PoliticalCartoons.com - searchable database of political cartoons
Candidate comparison sites: Geek the Vote 08: Popular Mechanic's Science and Technology Election Guide | Washington Post Campaign 2008: The Presidential Field | American Association for the Advancement of Science: Candidate S&T Positions

Popular Magazines or Scholarly Journals: What's the Difference?

Magazines and journals are called periodicals because they are issued on a regular or "periodic" basis. Periodicals are usually separated into two major groups: popular and scholarly. If you are able to recognize the differences between a popular and scholarly source, you can focus your research to retrieve only the type of articles you need.

QuickFIND - Getting Started

Try QuickFIND multi-database search to retrieve results from 11 databases (including the library catalog & Worldcat for books) on your topic with one search. There are 3 ways to search:

Search QuickFIND to find at least 2 useful resources for your project.
Email them to yourself or jot the references down here.

1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________

Saving/Emailing from QuickFIND

Teams can manage your citations with RefWorks if you wish to by creating a WPI mailing list alias for your project team, and a joint account (must have .wpi.edu address to use this tool).

Focus Your Research: Specific Databases for Popular Culture Research

Start your newspaper article search with:

LexisNexis Academic. General news database. Search tips:
- Use GUIDED search tab to refine
- Adapt atleast4(obama) and atleast2(environment) example to find multiple occurances of a term or phrase within an article.
- Adapt obama w/5 environment to find terms/phrase in proximity

Start your magazine/journal article search with:

Gale PowerSearch. Multidisiplinary database with coverage on all topics ranging from popular music to science to literature. Indexes the Journal of Popular Culture, an academic/scholarly journal. Search tips:
- Click Academic tab in results to view more scholarly publications
- Adapt (batman or superhero*) and (cultur* or popular or icon or pop culture)

Try the Subject Guide Search to find articles by subdivisions:

Gale PowerSearch Subject Search

Analyze article and journal title for perspective. Who is the intended audience?

2008 Presidential Candidates' Online Marketing Strategies. Search Marketing Gurus
It's the trust economy, stupid.(politicians uses online marketing strategy for political campaigns)." New Scientist
Could Facebook Swing the Election? PC Magazine
Expanding the Public Sphere: The Impact of Facebook on Political Communication linked from The New Vernacular (TNV)

During the research process...

Keep list of useful keywords and add as you find more

Follow up on relevant authors, researchers, experts

Follow up on bibliography/reference lists at the end of articles

Follow up on journals titles that seem relevant

Gather statistical information, key dates, and facts to build context surrounding your topic

Only Finding a Citation? Getting the Full Text

Is the journal online or here in the library? Use FullTextFinder to link to full articles or retrieval options within database results or search our Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers list
Visit another library: Search WorldCat to find one
Request delivery from another library: Interlibrary Loan.

Additional Databases & Electronic Resources to Explore

Finding Books at WPI and Beyond

Use library catalogs to identify books on a topic. Tip: Use subject headings found in records expand your search

WPI's Gordon Library Catalog. Find books and other non-article materials the library provides access to on your topic.
Beyond WPI: WorldCat. Includes the holdings of 1000s of libraries. Use to identify materials at local ARC (Academic Research Libraries in Worcester)
Obtaining books/articles from other libraries:
1. Visit the local library (get Access/Borrowers Card at Circulation Desk first)
2. Request item through Interlibrary Loan and we will borrow it for you (could take a week or two).

Give Credit! Cite Your Sources

Consider learning RefWorks to maintain your references.

Questions?

Stop by the reference desk or set up a research consultation.

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Last modified: Mar 19, 2008, 16:32 EDT