Tips for researching your English 128
Recommendation Report
GRCC Holman Library
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Topic exploration |
Finding "options" for your topic |
Finding books | Finding articles | Finding tables and graphs | Finding statistics |
Tips for more effective searching
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Researching from home | Citing
Sources
TOPIC EXPLORATION
The first part of your assignment is topic exploration. You need to find potential topics that need solutions. Therefore, it is wise to select a topic that is in some way a problem or issue. You are required to read one article or chapter on each
of three potential topics.
To explore potential topics, check the Browse by Topic link on
CQ Researcher. The sections on Business, Banking, and Economics, International Trade and Development, and Science and Technology might be especially useful for this class.
Also check the list of popular topics on the home page of the
Opposing Viewpoints database.
Try the using the Topics tab in the
ABI/Inform Trade & Industry database. Type a keyword in the search box to see a "menu" of possible topics.
FINDING "OPTIONS" FOR YOUR TOPIC
For your final paper, you are asked to analyze and compare at least three options, or solutions for your topic.
Use the
Opposing Viewpoints database, but this time conduct a search on your general topic. In your results, pay attention to the items in the Viewpoints (default) tab.
Find a CQ Researcher article on your topic. Pay attention to the Pro/Con, Outlook, and Next Step sections of the article. These sections will help you tease out both options and criteria for your paper.
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LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR TOPIC:
BOOKS
Search the
GRCC Library Catalog for books and other materials in the Holman Library.
Search the library's electronic book collection for books online.
If GRCC's library does not have a book you are looking for, fill out an Interlibrary Loan form to order the book from another college. This service is free! But you need to allow about seven days for delivery.
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LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR TOPIC:
ARTICLES
ARTICLE DATABASES:
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Proquest: Over 2200 magazines, journals, and
newspapers are represented, covering a wide range of
topics. You can limit this database to business-related articles by changing the Database drop-down menu on the initial search screen. There are two business-specific databases: ABI/Inform Trade & Industry and Hoover's Company Records.
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Academic Search Premier: It provides full text for
nearly 4,500 journals, including more than 3,600
peer-reviewed titles. PDF back files to 1975 or further are
available for well over one hundred journals, and searchable
cited references are provided for 1,000 titles.
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FINDING TABLES AND GRAPHS
If there is an article on your topic in
CQ Researcher, check the Maps/Graphs section of the article for images.
In the Academic Search Premier database, tables and graphs in some articles will appear in your search results.
You
can also add the search terms chart OR table OR graph to
one of the search boxes to get more results with this type
of information.
In the ABI/Inform Trade & Industry database, search for charts or graphs using the Document feature option in the drop-down menu next to each search box.
Remember!!: just as you must cite the text you refer to in your research, you must also cite the images! Check the APA style guide for details on how to cite tables and graphs.
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FINDING STATISTICS
Use the library's
guide to finding statistics.
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TIPS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE SEARCHING
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Identifying synonyms can increase the quantity of "hits"
resulting from your search and, as a result, the quality
of your literature search. For example:
|
Key concept |
Synonyms |
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genetically modified food |
genetically altered food |
| |
genetically engineered food |
| |
genetically modified organisms |
| |
gmo |
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To create a list of synonyms for each of your identified
key concepts, also consider:
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Key concept |
Synonym |
|
Use abbreviations AND proper terms |
"ADHD" |
"attention deficit hyperactivity disorder"
"attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder" |
|
Include ALL variations |
"ADHD" |
"hyperactivity"
"attention disorders"
"AD/HD"
|
|
Consider historical variations |
"African American" |
"black" |
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Consider regional/geographic variations |
"First Nations People" |
"Aboriginals" |
|
Consider singular and plural |
"calf" |
"calves" |
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Consider spelling variations |
"color" |
"colour" |
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Researching from home
Students doing library research remotely (from outside of the library) should be able to
access most of the electronic sources. However, in order to access restricted
sources (e.g.: Proquest database), you must enter your
student identification number.
If
you are experiencing problems, contact the
reference
desk
for assistance
at (253) 833-9111 ext. 2091.
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Citing Sources
Noodlebib
NoodleBib
is a
product that allows you to generate, edit,
and print an APA References list
that complies with the rules of the current
APA Publication Manual. There's even a space to add an annotation for your annotated bibliography!
APA Style
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