English 201:Research in the Disciplines

http://www.pace.edu/libraryClick on: Subject Guides, then “Research in the Disciplines”

Introductions

What is your status at Pace? Transfer? Sophomore? Junior?

Have you attended a library orientation before? With what class?

Do you have a library barcode? Do you have an ILLiad account?

Our goals for today:

Know where to find Reference tools in your subject area.

Recognize the Call Number area that corresponds to your discipline.

Choose an appropriate database in which to conduct your research.

Understand the kinds of advanced features that library databases offer.

Know where to locate scholarly journals published in your field of study.

Disciplines and Research

Taking a particular disciplinary perspective on a topic is important to your research because: Libraries (public and academic) are

organized by discipline. Many electronic search tools (i.e. library

databases) are discipline-specific.

Reference Tools

Great starting points, leads to other sources

See handout, or search the library catalog by Keyword, limiting your location to “Birnbaum Reference”

Note the Call Numbers! Try the Gale Virtual Reference

Library database

The Pace Library Catalog

Contains information about items in all Pace University Library locations

Request items from other campuses for delivery

Connect NY – request items from a group of academic libraries in NY state

Scholarly Journal Sources What is a scholarly journal? Where do you find them?

Subject-specific databases General databases, with search limited to

Scholarly or “peer reviewed” JSTOR Directory of Open Access Journals http://

www.doaj.org/ Google Scholar

http://scholar.google.com

Choosing a Database

Things to think about: Subject content Date coverage Type of information contained Availability of items (do you need/want

full text?)

Using a Database

Educate yourself about its basic functionality (is there online help?)

Use advanced search capabilities Combining search terms using AND and OR Truncation

Make note of subjects the databases uses to describe articles related to your topic

Rephrase your search to find more articles

Finding Articles

Use the service to determine the subscription status of the journal in which an article appeared.

If we do not subscribe to the journal, InterLibrary Loan - ILLiad Articles will be e-mailed when possible

Citation Formats

MLA format is often used in the Humanities

APA format is used in the sciences and sometimes in the social sciences

Chicago and Turabian format are also used in the social sciences

Elements of an MLA Article Citation

To cite a full text article from a library database:

Lessig, Lawrence. “Privacy as Property.” Social Research 69 (2002): 247-269. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Pace Univ. Library, Pleasantville, NY. 27 Jan 2005 <http://search.epnet.com>.

Elements of an APA article citation

To cite a full-text item from a library database:

Shrier, I. (2003). Tai chi retards bone loss and improves muscle strength. Physician & Sportsmedicine, 31, 16-7. Retrieved October 11, 2004 from Health Source Nursing/Academic database.

Elements of a Chicago citation

To cite a full-text article from a library database:

Provenzo, Eugene F., Jr. "Time Exposure." Educational Studies 34, no. 2(2003): 266-67. http://search.epnet.com.

Good Luck With Your Research!

Pace University Library Home Page:

http://www.pace.edu/library

Birnbaum Library Reference Desk:

(212) 346-1331