EN 2211: Elements of Writing

L. Higgins

Off campus?

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

Web Searching

Evaluate...

Evaluating Web Resources Checklist (PDF) | Does Google Scholar really zone in on academic sources?

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...

NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids | Bodybuilding Steroids

For multimedia, use the same criteria and critical eye or ear. There's a lot of suspicious information and you should look for items that have credibility above all.

Authority
Scope
Currency
Accuracy

Searching the web can be a great starting place to help find keywords for searching library databases, multimedia, finding issues/problems to explore, and tracking down organizations and experts.

Google.com define: steroids | Other search engines
Multimedia: Blinkx Video Search Creative Commons | Google Image Search | AOL Video Search | Yahoo Video Search | Google Video
Issues: Public Agenda | Urban Institute and other think tanks | Public Advocacy Groups
Organizations and Experts: Local or State or Federal Government | Corporate and Trade Associations | Non-governmental | Community Resources | Scholars

Finding Articles on your Topic: Getting Started

First, understand different types of periodical literature by reviewing:

Research Circuit: Starting Smart
Popular Magazines or Scholarly Journals: What's the Difference?

Become an expert searcher by understanding Boolean Advanced Searching: Worksheet

Search Structure is extremely important: (corticosteroids OR steroids OR doping OR nandrolone) AND (body image OR self image OR performance) AND (use keywords here that zone in on your angle)

Start your newspaper article search with:

LexisNexis Academic. General news database. Search tips:
- Use GUIDED search tab to refine
- Adapt atleast4(steroids) example to find multiple occurances of a term or phrase within an article.
- Adapt steroids w/5 red sox to find terms/phrase in proximity
If LexisNexis doesn't get you what you need, zone in on a specific regional newspaper, try Internet Public Library's newspaper list.

Start your magazine/journal article search with:

Thomson PowerSearch. Multidisiplinary database with coverage on all topics ranging from popular music to science to literature. Search tips:
- Check refereed to limit to scholarly publications
- Adapt (athlete* or steroid*) and (body image or self esteem)
- Analyze article and journal title for perspective:
  - Anabolic steroids: answers to the bigger questions: widely used agents can have powerful effects, both positive and negative. The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine
  - Vocabularies of motive for illicit steroid use among bodybuilders. Social Science & Medicine

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? Search our Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers
Visit another library: Search WorldCat to find one
Request delivery from another library: Interlibrary Loan.

Additional Databases & Electronic Resources to Explore

Within ThomsonGale Powersearch and library database searches, look for FullTextFinder link for retrieval options.

JSTOR - scholarly journals
Project Muse - scholarly journals
PubMed - database of medical literature
All Databases & Electronic Resources - choose a subject area to zone in on

Finding Books at WPI and Beyond

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

Try Refworks: a bibliographic database & citation management tool. Create a database of your references then output them into many formats, including IEEE style. More...

Questions?

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

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Last modified: Mar 12, 2008, 09:37 EDT