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English 111 & 112 Research Guide
Books
Books are written or printed works produced by one or more authors. Individuals or committees with expertise in the field often edit books. Because they provide comprehensive information on their subject at the time of publication, books are very valuable in the research process. For many subject areas this is the best starting point for research. Many books contain valuable bibliographies at end of each chapter or at the close of the book. This provides an excellent entry point into the subject material as well to the authors publishing in a particular field of study.
| The Craft of Composition: Activities and Advice for College Writers |
PE 1413 .K44 |
| The Shape of Reason: Argumentative Writing in College |
PE 1431 .G34 |
Databases
Online information databases are large, regularly updated collections of digitized information -- including but not limited to abstracts and full text articles from journals and newspapers, conference proceedings and submitted papers, dissertations, government reports, essays, book chapters, web pages, etc. The content is created by publishers who release print versions, then lease the rights to their information to database vendors. Database records are easy to search and retrieve because the content of each record has been analyzed and assigned appropriate subject headings, keywords, names, etc. New records are regularly downloaded from the producer of each database.
In order to access these resources off-campus, you must first obtain the passwords.
If you are looking for a specific journal within a database, use the E-Journal Portal. It returns the names of databases which contain the desired journal.
- Academic Search Premier is a general database of scholarly sources containing full text for nearly 4,700 publications, including more than 3,600 peer-reviewed publications. This scholarly collection offers information in nearly every area of academic study including: computer sciences, engineering, physics, chemistry, language and linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences, ethnic studies, and many more. Indexing for more than 8,000 publications, with full text for nearly 4,500 of those titles. PDF back files to 1975 or earlier are available.
- CQ Researcher Online provides original, comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world. Each 12,000-word report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist. CQ Researcher reports offer in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy.
- CQ Weekly provides coverage of the U.S. Congress. It is a complete source for expert coverage of Congress including the status of bills, votes and amendments, floor and committee activity, and back room maneuvering.
- Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) is a comprehensive source for the study of international affairs. CIAO is the world’s most comprehensive electronic database for theory and research in international affairs. It publishes a wide range of scholarship, from 1991 onward, that includes working papers, occasional papers, policy briefs, conferences proceedings, e-books, and journals.
- Issues and Controversies in American History is an online source of current information on controversial and historical issues in American history. Included with the narratives are chronologies, illustrations, maps, tables, sidebars, and bibliographies.
- Newspaper Source contains the full-text of many major American newspapers.
- Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center based on Greenhaven Press' acclaimed Opposing Viewpoints series, covers current events and social issues from various angles. Included are links to secondary sources, government information and public policy.
- Points of View Reference Center (EBSCO) is designed to assist students in understanding the full scope of controversial subjects. Students can use Points of View as a guide to debate, developing arguments, writing position papers, and for development of critical thinking skills. Each essay includes a series of questions and additional material to generate further thought. Also included are thousands of supporting articles from the world’s top political and societal publications.
- The Gale Virtual Reference Library's World Education Encyclopedia, 3 vols., (2001), provides a country-by-country survey of educational systems providing detailed essays on the histories, legal foundations, and primary and secondary educational systems of 233 countries. This edition provides up-to-date coverage of reorganized educational systems and technological advances.
- CountryWatch is an information provider for corporations, government agencies, universities, schools, libraries and individuals needing up-to-date news and information on each of the recognized countries of the world.
Dictionaries
A dictionary is any single or multi-volume work which briefly explains terms and topics related to a specific subject, usually arranged alphabetically. Dictionary entries are usually shorter than those found in an encyclopedia. Dictionaries assist with the understanding of terminology and concepts, suggest synonyms, related terms, and scientific names, and are useful resources to consult when formulating and refining your research strategy. Often illustrations and references to additional resources are included.
| American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language |
REF PE 1628 .A623 |
| Beginner's Dictionary of American English Usage |
REF PE 2827 .C65 |
| Bernstein's Reverse Dictionary |
REF PE 1591 .B45 |
| Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases |
REF PE 1591 .R7 |
| Thematic Dictionary of American Idioms |
REF PE 2839 .S66 |
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias are among the most widely used reference sources and contain articles of varying lengths covering all fields of knowledge. Typically encyclopedias cover many topics but without going into a great deal of depth on any one thing. Encyclopedias are a good starting point for researching topics that you do not know much about or that are completely new to you. They can give you background information which can help when you move to more in-depth sources later. Specialized encyclopedias may cover just one field or even a sub-unit of that field. Subject encyclopedias can be consulted for detailed or technical information on a subject.
Handbooks, Manuals and Guides
Handbooks, manuals and guides are resources which supply concise factual and statistical information often in the form of charts, graphs, tables and formulas. These sources have very basic information, with little or no discussion or analysis of the facts they present. They cover a wide variety of topics, and as with other reference sources, these tools may be general or specific to a field, group of people, or era. These sources are frequently updated, which makes them valuable for locating current information. Try searching the online catalog using the keywords of your topic combined with one of the following keywords: handbook, manual or guide.
| New St. Martin's Handbook |
PE 1112 .L86 |
| Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers |
PE 1408 .R424 |
| Thinking and Writing: a Guide for College Students |
PE 1408 .T395 |
Statistics
Statistical sources attempt to answer questions beginning with “How much?” or “How many?” The tool needed to answer such a question is determined by the question's depth and complexity. Typically a straightforward question requires searching for statistics already analayzed and recorded in books, journal articles, and the publications of governments, associations, and organizations.
Web Sites
- Search the Internet using search and meta-search engines, subject indexes, directories, and gateways.
- KillerInfo is a no advertising, clustering multi-search engine that is the best tool to use to begin an Internet search.
- The CIA World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. The Factbook is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired, converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers. Information is raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary, contradictory, unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong. Intelligence is information that has been collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finished intelligence is the final product of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to the policymaker.
- Federal Resources for Educational Excellence make it easier to find teaching and learning resources from the federal government. More than 1,500 federally supported teaching and learning resources are included from dozens of federal agencies.
- Guide to Grammar and Writing
- NationMaster is a central data source to graphically compare nations. It contains data from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, UN, and OECD. You can generate maps and graphs on all kinds of statistics.
- Online English Grammar
- Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
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