How to cite.

1. 11/1/2021 Research Paper Help - Citation Guide - Research Guides at Dixie State University
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Dixie / Research Guides / Citation Guide / Research Paper Help
Citation Guide: Research Paper Help
A guide to create citations for bibliographies and works cited in reference papers.
Home Citing sources Annotated Bibliography MLA APA Turabian ASA CSE (Council of Science Editors)
Useful Online Resources Research Paper Help
Research Assistance
If we can further assist you in
your search for information,
please drop by the reference
desk or contact the reference
staff via phone at 435-652-2081.
Reference Desk Hours:
M-Th 7:30 am to 10 pm
Fri 7:30 am to 5 pm
Choosing a Topic
STEP 1--Choosing a topic.
Is there something that you want to know more about? Do you have a particular
hobby or something you really like to do in your spare time? Have you read an
article lately about a subject that intrigues you? Is there something in the news
that interests you? Picking a topic that interests you will make doing the research
more enjoyable!
If you're still having trouble selecting a topic, consider the following suggestions:
Come to the Reference Desk and look at the book 10,000 Ideas for Term
Papers, Projects and Reports.
Look in the CQ Researcher database. It contains short reports on current
topics.
Search the library online catalogfor the following series which address
current trends and social issues:
Opposing Viewpoints
Taking Sides
Information Series on Current Topics
National Issues Forums
Look at the internet site Hot Topics
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Search this Guide Search

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General Online Help
Here are some online sites to help
with General Research questions.
Dixie State University's OWL
This Dixie's OWL Home page
will guide you to many sites
that can assist you in your
writing.
Internet Navigator
This course was created to
assist college and university
students in learning to gather
information for research.
Anyone is free to use these
lessons for independent
learning.
Hopefully, by now, you've found a topic that you're really excited about.
Narrowing your topic
If you picked a broad, general topic such as "terrorism" or "the environment" to
write about, you probably need to narrow the focus of your research. If you looked
up "terrorism" in the Academic Search Premier database, for instance, you'd find
59262 articles. Do you really want to look through 59262 articles about terrorism?
How do you narrow a topic? Begin by thinking of a particular issue or sub-topic
associated with your topic. An example of narrower aspects of "terrorism" or "the
environment" would be "psychological aspects of terrorism" or "global warming".
Having trouble thinking of a sub-topic? Go to the Reference Desk and ask to
see the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Look under your topic and find the
NT symbol. These are Narrower Topics. Glance through these terms for one that
interests you.
You might also trying looking up your topic in the Academic Search Premier
database. Be sure to do a "subject terms" search. Click on the term itself to see
broader terms, narrower terms, or related terms. You will find your topic broken
down into sub-topics.
Are you satisfied with your choice of topic?
NO? Talk to your professor.
YES! Go on to Step 2.
Reference
Reference Librarians
Schedule Appointment
Contact:
David Zielke 652-7716
Dianne Aldrich 652-7720
Linda Jones 879-4243
Caleb Ames 879-4321
John Burns 879-4712
Kathleen Broeder 652-7718
Subjects:
Career, Citations, Copyright,
Evaluation, Faculty, Foreign
Languages, Grants / Patents, Help,
Legal, Questions, Reference, Test
Prep
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3. 11/1/2021 Research Paper Help - Citation Guide - Research Guides at Dixie State University
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Finding Background Information
Step 2--Finding Background Information
When you've chosen your topic begin by gathering background information.
Background information will tell you in general terms what is known about your
topic. It includes things like definitions of your topic, names of people who are
authorities in the field, movements or dates, important facts, etc. Background
information will also help you understand the relationship of your topic to other
subjects, find subcategories and issues within the subject, and locate terminology
associated with your topic. Start by:
Asking a reference librarian to help you find a general or subject specific
dictionary.
Finding out if the library has a subject specific encyclopedia on your topic.
Checking the CQ Researcher database.
Looking in Dixie Cat (online catalog) for a basic book about your topic.
Reviewing your lecture notes, textbook or reserve readings.
Take advantage of the bibliographies at the end of articles, chapters, etc. in these
books. Write down any useful sources such as books, journals, magazines, etc.
These are usually excellent starting points for additional research.
Check periodical databases for magazine and journal articles. Keep in mind that
the books or articles you find may also have bibliographies of other materials that
will be useful in your research.
Go to Step 3.
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Finding Information Sources
Step 3--Finding Information Sources
Before you begin writing a paper it helps to think about the kind and amount of
information you will need. Do you need facts, statistics, laws, opinions, research
or case studies, etc.? Do you need the latest information (science and technology
topics) or the historical development of an issue (political, educational, or social
topics)? Where will you find the information? In books, magazines, journals,
newspapers, electronic databases, on the internet? Maybe you want to find an
expert and interview him/her.
Make sure the resource fits the research.
Two basic kinds of sources used in researching a topic are:
Directional sources such as online catalogs, periodical indexes,
bibliographies and the Library of Congress subject headings list. These
sources will help you locate what you are looking for in the information
sources.
Information sources such as general & specialized encyclopedias,
specialized reference books (dictionaries, handbooks, etc.), books,
magazine and journal articles, online databases, and the internet.
How to find books
How to find articles
How to find videos/DVDs
Go to Step 4.
Evaluating what you find
Step 4--Evaluating What You Find
As you are gathering information for your paper, you will want to carefully evaluate
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s you a e gat e g o at o o you pape , you a t to ca e u y e a uate
what you find. This is true for all types of materials. Some questions you should
ask yourself when you are evaluating a source are:
What are the author's credentials?
When was it published? Is there a newer or revised edition?
Who published it? Are they well-known, reputable?
For journals--is this a scholarly journal or a popular magazine? If you need
help determining what type of journal you are looking at click here
Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals (Cornell
University site) or go to the Reference Desk and check Magazines for
Libraries by Katz.
Scholarly journals usually contain footnotes or references, popular magazines
don't.
Now look carefully at the text and ask yourself these questions:
Who is the intended audience? Is the information too simple, too
technical, too advanced or just right for your needs?
Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
Is the information well-researched or unsupported by evidence?
Is the point of view objective and impartial?
Does the work verify other information you have gathered or does
it add new information?
Internet Sources
Two basic kinds of resources on the internet are subscription databases and web
pages . Subscription databases generally contain full text periodical and
newspaper articles that can also be found in print. Evaluate them the same way
you'd evaluate the printed source. Web pages can be posted by educational
institutions, the government, organizations, businesses or individual people. It is
helpful to know who has posted the web page when you are evaluating the
material found there. A quick look at the three-letter extension on the web address
will give you some important clues.
.edu - educational institutions
.gov - government offices
.com - commercial businesses
mil military
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Last Updated: Nov 17, 2020 10:12 AM URL: https://libguides.dixie.edu/citationguide  Print Page Login to LibApps
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Subjects: Citations, Help, Reference, Writing Tags: citation
.mil - military
.org - organizations, usually non-profit
.net - network access providers
Some basic criteria used for evaluating web pages are: credibility, accuracy,
reasonableness, and support (CARS).
Go to Step 5
Citing what you find
Step 5--Citing what you find
When you are gathering information for your paper, it is helpful to carefully record
full citations to each source you use. It will save you time and frustration as you
write your paper. Be sure you know what format your instructor requires. Modern
Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) are
two of the most common. Others are: The Chicago Manual of Style, and The ACS
Style Guide (American Chemical Society).
Where can I find style manuals and citation formats?
Ask at the Reference Desk
Select HELP on the library home page (upper right). Citation Libguides
have both MLA and APA help.
Check the Online Writing Lab on the Dixie State College Home Page
under "Academics".
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