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Research as a Conversation: Using Search Skills/Tools to Find What They Say

How to Read a Citation

Georgia Tech Library

Cornell University Library

  If you only have a citation to
  an article and need the full-
  text, click here.

Search Skills

Search Skills
can help you find what scholars and students say about your topic
  • Search other works by the same author.
  • Search citations in footnotes & bibliographies from relevant books & articles.
  • Do a citation analysis.
  • Choose discipline-specific databases.
  • Use Boolean logic and truncation techniques.
  • Use search Limiters - year, peer-reviewed, format.
  • Look at major books and journals in the field.
  • Set search alerts.
  • Choose scholars and students with different perspectives.

 

             If your 1st search strategy
                  doesn't work,  
                       try another one!

Search Tools

Search Tools
 
  • Encyclopedias - Why an encyclopedia?  
             1. To learn general information about your Topic.
             2. To know what questions to ask.
             3. To refine and refocus your Topic.
 
          Examples:

             The New Encyclopaedia Britannica (paper)  

                    World Book Encyclopedia (online)    

  • Reference books

         CU Catalog Advance Search

             1. Type search term
             2. Limit by Reference

         Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

         Bibliographies  Two ways to access these:

             1. Click advanced search in the CU catalog & search
                 "bibliography" as SUBJECT + limit Location to
                 "Reference".
              2. Look up call numbers R 010-019 in Reference collection.
 
          Resource Guides
 
  • Other books

         CU catalog                  OhioLINK

         WoldCat                      Google Books

 
  • Articles in Databases (saved searches & search alerts)

         Sample of databases

         Academic Search Complete            JSTOR

          LexisNexis Academic                      Opposing Viewpoints

         ATLASerials, Religion Collection     Google Scholar

         Which databases are best for your subjects?

         Art                       International Studies  Political Science

         Criminal Justice  Literature                    Religions

         Education           Marketing                    Theater             

How is Information Organized?

Library
Organization Systems


This is what our library uses.