1. WRIT 3037
Advanced Writing
JENNIFER HOLLAND
REFERENCE &
INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN
UHCL NEUMANN LIBRARY

2. Objectives:
• Create effective search statements
• Learn to navigate library databases to
find peer-reviewed articles
• Locate full-text articles when you have
a citation

3. What is peer review?
A. Process in which manuscripts submitted to
academic journals are reviewed by subject
experts prior to publication
B. Process that ensures the advancement of
new knowledge and ideas
C. Characteristic of all articles that appear in
scholarly journals
D. Both A & B
E. All of the above

4. What is peer review?
Answer: D
Although much of their content is
peer-reviewed, scholarly journals also
contain book reviews, editorials, and
other articles that do not undergo the
peer-review process.

5. Which of the following is a characteristic of a
scholarly journal article?
A. Cites sources with footnotes and/or
bibliography
B. Usually written by faculty members and
researchers
C. Reports original research or theory
D. Screened by scholars prior to publication
E. All of the above

6. Which of the following is a characteristic of a
scholarly journal article?
Answer: E

7. Periodical Types
“Peer-reviewed”
“Refereed”
“Scholarly”
“Academic”
“Trade”
“Professional”
“Practitioner”
“Industry”
“General”
“Popular”

8. Which search will find FEWER results?

9. Which search will find FEWER results?
Answer:

10. Using AND
school
AND
prayer
+ +
0 0
+ + +0 0 0
0 0
+ + + +
0 0 0
+ + +
Total results = 5

11. Using OR
school
OR
prayer
+ +
0 0
+ + +0 0 0
0 0
+ + + +
0 0 0
+ + +
Total
results = 22

13. Using a wildcard (*) will:
A. Find MORE
results
B. Find FEWER
results
C. Find synonyms
and related terms
Example:
school*

14. Using a wildcard (*) will:
Answer:
A. Find MORE
results
Example:
school*

15. Using a wildcard (*) will BROADEN your search
(find MORE)
school*
pray*
school
schools
schooling
schoolhouse
schoolchildren
pray
prays
prayer
prayers
praying
classroom
religion
However, it will
not find related
terms or
synonyms

16. Creating a Search Statement
Tips
• Use OR to combine synonyms or related terms
• “Nest” synonyms or related terms in parentheses or a single text entry
box

17. Getting to the course guide (1 of 3)
1

18. Getting to the course guide (2 of 3)
2

19. Getting to the course guide (3 of 3)
3

20. Good database to begin
your search

21. If you are connecting from off campus you will receive an
authentication request.
Your library barcode is 200 + your 7-digit student ID number
2000987456

22. Click Sign In to set up an
account (recommended)

24. Which words represent the main
concepts in this research question?
Are teenagers who play video games
more violent?

25. Are teenagers who play video games
more violent?
teen*
teen
teens
teenager
teenagers
video gam*
video game
video games
video gaming
violence

27. See results
Check Scholarly
(Peer Reviewed)
See sorting
options

28. Your turn…
Find peer-reviewed articles
about the exploitation of laborers
in the garment industry

29. Scan results for related terms that
might help expand your search

30. Connect related terms with OR to
get MORE results

31. Getting Access to Full Text
Articles
Click ArticleLinker to see if the full text is available
in another database

32. There’s a good chance it is!

33. If it’s not available, submit an article request!

34. Most requests only
take a few days. A
notification will be
sent to your UHCL
account when the
item is available.

35. Use OneSearch to
search the entire
library collection.
This can be a good
way to find
databases you
wouldn’t have
thought to use.

36. Use quotation marks
around multi-word terms
Capitalize Boolean
operators
Sample search:
“clothing industry” AND (exploit* OR sweatshop*)
AND (laborer* OR worker*)
Use parentheses to “nest” similar terms

38. Select limiters to
refine your search
Check out these
recommended
databases

42. Note the citation tools

43. Your turn…
Find a reference work on the
teaching of creationism in public
schools

45. TIP: Check the bibliography for
suggestions for further reading
Does the library have this book?

47. “but is it science”
ruse
Ruse, Michael, ed. But Is It Science? The
Philosophical Question in the Creation/Evolution
Controversy. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1996.

49. Your turn…
Find books on creationism in
public schools published AFTER
2003

51. Requesting a book from
another campus

55. Need more help?
Ask a Librarian