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1. Writing
Seminar

2. Develop a search strategy
Find resources in library
catalog and databases available
 Everything shown today is
available at Research Guides for
ENGL 111.

4. Allows you to see what is out
there
Helps you narrow your topic
and discard any irrelevant
materials
Aids in developing the thesis
Makes you a better scholar

5.  Licensed state-wide, access free to Ohio
students for the rest of your life!
 See: http://0-www.refworks.com.polar.onu.edu/
 Write n’ Cite interfaces with MS Word
 Excellent Tutorials
 Help available at Heterick
 Research Guide for HONR 231 for
instructions on how to get your free-for-a-
life-time account

6. REFWORKS

7.  Take a look at your topic and identify key
search terms, Ask a question.
 Most databases now use an implied
Boolean logic search scheme so a
keyword search will get you started.
 Boolean logic is the use of AND, NOT, OR
to narrow or expand your search
 See Research Guide for ENGL 111 Kanwit
WHO

8. •Start big doing
background reading
•Narrow your topic for a
more focused product
•Research narrowed
topic using subject
specific databases
•Keep track of Ask a question
bibliographic citations to
avoid trouble down the
road.

9. Google and Wikipedia aren’t intrinsically
evil, just use them for the correct purpose
in your research.

10. FIND INTERNET RESOURCES
Comprehensive Subject portals:
search engines: •Librarians' Index to the
•Alta Vista Internet
•Ask.com •Scholar.Google •WWW Virtual Library
•Excite •Hotbot
•Lycos
•Wisenut Multi-engine
searching:
MetaCrawler
Vivisimo

11. Note: If Google Scholar
working
off ONU buys
Full-text
campus database Google asks
please see to link to
content
the
OhioLINK
“Google Permits
scholar” Google to Run Google
tab at the link to full-text Scholar
Search
Research
Guide for
ONU user sees
ENGL 111 licensed full-text
articles

12.  What? is the page/site about
 Who? created and maintains this site
 Where? Is the information coming from
 Why? Is the information presented on the web
 When? Was the page created or last updated
 How? Accurate or credible is the page
From the University of Wisconsin Library,
worksheet for evaluating web sites

13. Use library resources to continue your background
research.

14. FIND A BOOK∞POLAR

15. •Looks in several locations (usually
subject, article title, abstracts or
contents)
•Does not require an exact match
•Generates comparatively large
number of hits (not precise)
•Good if you are not familiar with
terminology
•Look for the same or similar words
which keep appearing

16. FIND A BOOK∞POLAR
Click on the “Find Similar Items” link
found on each item record
•Looks in one place – subject
•Usually requires an exact match
between your term and a pre-set
list of terms
•Precise (motion pictures -- review)
•Can be used after keyword search
has identified specific subjects

17.  Materials owned by all Ohio colleges,
universities, several public libraries
 Ca. 10 million items
 Link from POLAR permits you to submit
requests. Available from Heterick home page
 Most requests arrive in 2-3 working days
 No charge
 Limited to 100 items at a time
 MAY RENEW UP TO 4 TIMES

18.  Figure out your search strategy
 Have your search phrases ready
 Head to the journals to find articles
 Decide if you want to use a
database or head directly to a
pertinent journal.

19. What do I do next?
Use databases to find articles based on your
search strategy

20.  Periodical means the
same as Magazine
Usually magazines are
more “popular”
 Journals
Scholarly or Professional
Peer reviewed See Research Guide
for HONR 231 for this
and other Handouts

21.  Often tools for locating journal and
newspaper articles
 Most are subject-specific – some
multi-disciplinary
 Many give access to full text of
articles
 Heterick has over 250

22. Over 20,000 journals indexed,
most are full text
Divided by subject area offered at
ONU
Begin with a general database,
 Academic Search Complete

23. Research Tools∞Databases
A. Academic Search Complete
B. Film and TV Literature Index
C. MLA International Bibliography
D. NYT Historical
E. Lexis-Nexis Academic
F. American Drama or English Prose
Drama

24. Scholarly journals,
peer reviewed articles

34.  Use when you need a book or
article that is not available online,
not owned by ONU or available via
OhioLINK
 No charge/ limit on requests
 Most requests take 5-7 days to fill
 Use ILL form on library web pages.

35.  Ask at the Reference Desk
 Phone the Reference Desk – 2185
 Contact us by E-mail
reference@onu.edu
 Use Chat Help feature or the IM
 IM feature