2. Develop a search strategy
Find resources in library
catalog and databases available
Everything shown today is
available at Research Guides for
ENGL 111.
4. Allows you to see what is out
there
Helps you narrow your topic
and discard any irrelevant
materials
Aids in developing the thesis
Makes you a better scholar
5. Licensed state-wide, access free to Ohio
students for the rest of your life!
See: http://0-www.refworks.com.polar.onu.edu/
Write n’ Cite interfaces with MS Word
Excellent Tutorials
Help available at Heterick
Research Guide for HONR 231 for
instructions on how to get your free-for-a-
life-time account
7. Take a look at your topic and identify key
search terms, Ask a question.
Most databases now use an implied
Boolean logic search scheme so a
keyword search will get you started.
Boolean logic is the use of AND, NOT, OR
to narrow or expand your search
See Research Guide for ENGL 111 Kanwit
WHO
8. •Start big doing
background reading
•Narrow your topic for a
more focused product
•Research narrowed
topic using subject
specific databases
•Keep track of Ask a question
bibliographic citations to
avoid trouble down the
road.
9. Google and Wikipedia aren’t intrinsically
evil, just use them for the correct purpose
in your research.
10. FIND INTERNET RESOURCES
Comprehensive Subject portals:
search engines: •Librarians' Index to the
•Alta Vista Internet
•Ask.com •Scholar.Google •WWW Virtual Library
•Excite •Hotbot
•Lycos
•Wisenut Multi-engine
searching:
MetaCrawler
Vivisimo
11. Note: If Google Scholar
working
off ONU buys
Full-text
campus database Google asks
please see to link to
content
the
OhioLINK
“Google Permits
scholar” Google to Run Google
tab at the link to full-text Scholar
Search
Research
Guide for
ONU user sees
ENGL 111 licensed full-text
articles
12. What? is the page/site about
Who? created and maintains this site
Where? Is the information coming from
Why? Is the information presented on the web
When? Was the page created or last updated
How? Accurate or credible is the page
From the University of Wisconsin Library,
worksheet for evaluating web sites
15. •Looks in several locations (usually
subject, article title, abstracts or
contents)
•Does not require an exact match
•Generates comparatively large
number of hits (not precise)
•Good if you are not familiar with
terminology
•Look for the same or similar words
which keep appearing
16. FIND A BOOK∞POLAR
Click on the “Find Similar Items” link
found on each item record
•Looks in one place – subject
•Usually requires an exact match
between your term and a pre-set
list of terms
•Precise (motion pictures -- review)
•Can be used after keyword search
has identified specific subjects
17. Materials owned by all Ohio colleges,
universities, several public libraries
Ca. 10 million items
Link from POLAR permits you to submit
requests. Available from Heterick home page
Most requests arrive in 2-3 working days
No charge
Limited to 100 items at a time
MAY RENEW UP TO 4 TIMES
18. Figure out your search strategy
Have your search phrases ready
Head to the journals to find articles
Decide if you want to use a
database or head directly to a
pertinent journal.
19. What do I do next?
Use databases to find articles based on your
search strategy
20. Periodical means the
same as Magazine
Usually magazines are
more “popular”
Journals
Scholarly or Professional
Peer reviewed See Research Guide
for HONR 231 for this
and other Handouts
21. Often tools for locating journal and
newspaper articles
Most are subject-specific – some
multi-disciplinary
Many give access to full text of
articles
Heterick has over 250
22. Over 20,000 journals indexed,
most are full text
Divided by subject area offered at
ONU
Begin with a general database,
Academic Search Complete
23. Research Tools∞Databases
A. Academic Search Complete
B. Film and TV Literature Index
C. MLA International Bibliography
D. NYT Historical
E. Lexis-Nexis Academic
F. American Drama or English Prose
Drama
34. Use when you need a book or
article that is not available online,
not owned by ONU or available via
OhioLINK
No charge/ limit on requests
Most requests take 5-7 days to fill
Use ILL form on library web pages.
35. Ask at the Reference Desk
Phone the Reference Desk – 2185
Contact us by E-mail
reference@onu.edu
Use Chat Help feature or the IM
IM feature