5. Preparing to Search Articulate your topic Choose important ideas Identify keywords Find background information Reference books Websites Gather, organize and narrow it down
6. Preparing to Search Brainstorm Synonyms More specific terms Broader concepts Use broader terms for Books Use narrower terms for Articles Example: Encyclopedia of Earth
7. Search Tips Boolean “search connectors” Mammals AND Evolution Climate Change OR Global warming
9. Searching the Catalog Cook Library Research Library Catalogs Advanced Search Options Location Call number Library Map Other locations Interlibrary loan (Illiad) Request
10. Searching Databases Cook Library Subject Gateways Biology Peer-reviewed articles in multiple journals Journals Towson: 235 journals with the word Biology in the title Databases Science Citation Index: 6,650 journals on a variety of scientific disciplines Research vs Review
12. Writing and Citing Resources Cook Library Quick Tools Citing Sources Allows your readers to verify and identify where the information and ideas in your paper originated Gives credit to the owners of the ideas (avoiding plagiarism) Provides a connection between your research and the research of related sources
13. Remember … Search strategies and Search tips Finding books/articles in the Cook Library Evaluate the information Cite your sources Get started
14. Questions? Feel free to contact me: Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu 410.704.3746. Twitter: @LibrarianLaks Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat
Editor's Notes
Find information – Generally and specifically find journals for your area of interest and pull the two articles you will be reviewingEvaluateGet startedExplain Google doc and handouts
Google? Wikipedia? Friends/Family? Teachers? Librarians?No matter where you start, the search for information isn’t linear. You might start with one question then figure out it’s too broad and there is too much information out there. You might start with something that is too narrow and you can’t seem to find anything about it. In any case, when you start your search you can do somethings to prepare.
First go over Cook Library Website Help locations: Need Help, Ask a Librarian Quick Tools: Off campus login, Journal List, Help GuidesCatalogs – Towson, USMAI, Worldcat TU Search Bed bug -> Books: Insect How many articles? Look at entry Cite feature
