Micro-Scholarship, What it is, How can it help me.pdf
Library Resources for EN4271
1. Library Resources for EN4271: Research Workshop Ruby Seng Resource Librarian (ELL) rubyseng@nus.edu.sg
2. Outline Information sources & the research process Advanced searching techniques Steps 1-3 Catalogue & Google Scholar Databases Searching for theses More Miscellaneous 2
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5. The Research Process 5 List synonyms, related words & variant spellings Identify main keywords Create search statement Search for sources using LINC+/LINC & databases Topic Complete your assignment Get more sources by checking references no yes Are there enough? Evaluate quality, currency, relevance, etc.
11. Quotation Marks “ ” Use quotation marks “ ” for phrase searching Example: pride and prejudice: 2851 results “pride and prejudice”: 1105 results 8 Note: Most databases treat adjacent words as separate words (AND), but some databases treat them as phrase (“ ”)
12. Asterisk * Use asterisk * for variant forms of a word & variant spelling Examples: postmodern*= postmodernism, postmodernist… colo*r = color, colour 9 Note: Some databases use other symbols, e.g.: $, ?, !
13. Parentheses ( ) Use parentheses ( ) for grouping similar or related words Example: (kingship OR monarch*) AND Shakespeare = kingship AND Shakespeare = monarch* AND Shakespeare 10
14. When to Use 11 chick lit chick* AND lit* “chick lit” Note: See slide 46 for more information
19. Step 2: List Synonyms & Related Words 14 writing dessert cake literature broader chocolate mousse cheese cake tiramisu fiction short story play related words
20. Step 2: List Synonyms & Related Words 15 detective literature fiction OR novel OR short story OR play... private eye OR private investigator OR gumshoe…
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23. subject headings, key concepts, descriptorsarticles, books, etc. on the same subject 16
24. Step 3: Create Search Statement/String Topic: Depiction of female detectives in literature 17 Search statement: female AND (private investigator OR private eye OR detective) AND (literature OR fiction OR writing OR short stor*)
29. LINC+/LINC vs. Databases LINC+/LINC: search for resources in the library’s collection, i.e. books, journals, audio-visual materials, theses, etc. databases: search for journal articles, book chapters & reviews, conference proceedings, etc most databases provide citations & abstracts; some have full-text articles (or links) 20
31. Google Scholar aim: single search engine for scholarly literature may include links to free PDF articles good for quick research However, not all results come from scholarly sources many link to publishers' websites which require subscriber login use the proxy bookmarkletto access full-texts note: only for resources subscribed by NUS Libraries 22 Guide to using bookmarklet
39. DB #1: MLA International Bibliography 26 advanced search sort by relevance, publication date & document title subject: morrison, toni name of work: beloved refine
40. Checking a Journal Record in LINC 27 links to full text our subscription latest issue In Current Journals click for listing of more volumes, some of which are in Bound Journals and others in Closed Stacks search for specific volume or year
41. DB #2: Literature Online >350,000 works of English & American poetry, prose and drama biographies, bibliographies, articles, monographs, literary criticism and reference sources searches content from MLA International Bibliography, ABELL, JSTOR 28
42. DB #2: Literature Online Author Search 29 1. select authors 2. search for Morrison, Toni
43. DB#2: Literature Online Criticism Search 30 1. select criticism & reference 2. select criticism number of results click to mark record click to mark record
44. DB#3: JSTOR back issues of journals in the humanities and social sciences from the earliest issues to within a few years of current publication 31
45. DB#3: JSTOR 32 Search “graphic novels” Go to search>Advanced search mark to save, email or export citations Options to narrow search click here to see the first page download the PDF
46. DB #4: Project Muse full-text access to over 400 high quality humanities and social sciences journals from over 100 non-profit scholarly publishers 33
47. DB #4: Project Muse 34 email or export marked records search “chick lit” mark records
48. DB #5: 19th Century Masterfile largest resource for historical research prior to 1925 indexes to periodicals, newspapers, books, US Congressional Record, US and UK Government Documents, US Patents 35
49. DB #5: 19th Century Masterfile 36 keyword search exact phrase
50. DB#6: Factiva full text articles from nearly 8,000 sources from newspapers, newswires, magazines & trade journals no graphics and photographs Straits Times: from 1989 onwards alternative: LexisNexis Academic 37
51. DB#6: Factiva 38 go to search builder sort by date or relevance search for “Rex Shelley” type Straits Times, click on the button and select correct publication mark to view on single page, email, print or save
52. Other DBs Literature/Language Databases International FilmArchive Database (FIAF) Multi-disciplinary Databases Arts & Humanities Citation Index (via WOS) Empire Online Expanded Academic ASAP PERIND Periodicals Index Online Scopus Others Oxford English Dictionary 39 To browse more databases, go to E-Resources>Databases>By Subject
62. Troubleshooting Search Results You may encounter: too many results use AND, more precise keywords too few results use OR, synonyms/related words many irrelevant results exclude keywords that are too general no results check spelling, add OR & synonyms, or redefine your research topic If you need help, check with your professor or ask a librarian! 46
63. Evaluating Information Sources relevance: to your topic authority: reputable publisher, society or organisation; author’s credentials & institutional affiliation accuracy: methods of research; means to verify data; support by references comprehensiveness: range of viewpoints to support arguments objectivity: biasness currency: up-to-date scholarly: peer reviewed, cited 47
71. EndNote A software that: stores and organizes citations inserts citations into a Word document formats references ina predefined citation style For workshop schedules and more info: http://libguides.nus.edu.sg/endnote Technical queries (e.g. installation): call IT Care at 6516 2080 or email itcare@nus.edu.sg 51 Watch EndNote video
