library resources for en4271
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Outline
• Information sources & the research process• Advanced searching techniques• Steps 1-3• Catalogue & Google Scholar• Databases• Searching for theses• More• Miscellaneous
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• Information sources• The research process
Information Sources
• Books• Journal articles• Conference papers • Newspapers• Theses & dissertations• Primary sources• Internet
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The Research Process
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Identify main keywords
List synonyms, related words & variant spellings
Create search statement
Search for sources using LINC+/LINC & databases
Get more sources by checking references
Are there enough? Evaluate quality, currency, relevance, etc.
yesno
Complete your assignment
Topic
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Advanced Searching Techniques• Boolean operators• Quotation marks
• Asterisk• Parentheses• When to use
Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT1. AND: both terms must be present
• fewer results
2. OR: either terms may be present • more results
2. NOT/AND NOT: exclude a term• use with caution
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A B
cats AND dogs
A B
cats OR dogs
A B
cats NOT dogs
Quotation Marks “ ”
Use quotation marks “ ” for phrase searching
Example:
pride and prejudice: 2851 results
“pride and prejudice”: 1105 results
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Note:Most databases treat adjacent words as separate words (AND),but some databases treat them as phrase (“ ”)
Asterisk *
Use asterisk * for variant forms of a word & variant spelling
Examples:
postmodern*= postmodernism, postmodernist…
colo*r = color, colour
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Note:Some databases use other symbols, e.g.: $, ?, !
Parentheses ( )
Use parentheses ( ) for grouping similar or related words
Example:
(kingship OR monarch*) AND Shakespeare
= kingship AND Shakespeare
= monarch* AND Shakespeare
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When to Use
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chick lit chick* AND lit*
“chick lit”
Note:See slide 46 for more information
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Steps 1-3• Identify keywords
• List synonyms & related words• Where to find synonyms• Create search statement
Step 1: Identify Keywords
Topic: Depiction of female detectives in literature
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#1: female #2: detective #3: literature
Note:This is a very broad topic! You’ll need to decide on the author(s), period, nationality, etc.
Step 2: List Synonyms & Related Words
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cake
dessert
literature
writing
playfictionshort story
chocolate
moussetiramisu
cheese cake
broader
related words
Step 2: List Synonyms & Related Words
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detective literature
fiction ORnovel OR
short story ORplay...
private eye ORprivate investigator
ORgumshoe…
Where to Find Synonyms
• thesaurus:printonline, e.g. www.thesaurus.com
• databasesbuilt-in thesaurussubject headings, key concepts, descriptors
• articles, books, etc. on the same subject
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Step 3: Create Search Statement/String
Topic: Depiction of female detectives in literature
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Search statement:female AND (private investigator OR private eye OR detective) AND (literature OR fiction OR writing OR short stor*)
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Catalogue & Google Scholar• LINC+ vs. LINC
• LINC+/LINC vs. Databases• myLINC
• Google Scholar
LINC+ vs. LINC
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LINC+ LINC
•search many fields (title, author, keyword, subject)
•good for browsing & discovery
•search one field (title, author, keyword, call no., ISBN, collection) etc
•good for known item search
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)
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myLINC
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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 bookmarklet to access full-texts• note: only for resources subscribed by NUS Libraries
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Guide to using bookmarklet
It’s Break Time!
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Databases• MLA
• Literature Online• JSTOR
• Project Muse• 19th Century Masterfile
• Factiva
DB #1: MLA International Bibliography
• Modern Language Association of America (MLA)• scholarly books & articles on modern languages, literatures,
folklore and linguistics• coverage: literature from all over the world, works on
literature transmitted orally, in print, or in audio-visual media
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DB #1: MLA International Bibliography
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subject: morrison, toni
name of work: beloved
advanced search
refine
sort by relevance, publication date & document title
Checking a Journal Record in LINC
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links to full text
search for specific volume or year
click for listing of more volumes, some of which are in Bound Journals and others in Closed Stacks
our subscription
latest issue In Current Journals
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
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DB #2: Literature Online Author Search
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1. select authors
2. search for Morrison, Toni
DB#2: Literature Online Criticism Search
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1. select criticism & reference
2. select criticism
click to mark record
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
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DB#3: JSTOR
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Go to search>Advanced searchSearch “graphic novels”
Options to narrow search
click here to see the first page
download the PDF
mark to save, email or export citations
DB #4: Project Muse
• full-text access to over 400 high quality humanities and social sciences journals from over 100 non-profit scholarly publishers
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DB #4: Project Muse
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search “chick lit”
mark records
email or export marked records
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
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DB #5: 19th Century Masterfile
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keyword search
exact phrase
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
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DB#6: Factiva
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go to search builder
type Straits Times, click on the button and select correct publication
search for “Rex Shelley”
sort by date or relevance
mark to view on single page, email, print or save
Other DBs
Literature/Language DatabasesInternational FilmArchive Database (FIAF)
Multi-disciplinary DatabasesArts & Humanities Citation Index (via WOS)Empire OnlineExpanded Academic ASAPPERINDPeriodicals Index OnlineScopus
OthersOxford English Dictionary
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To browse more databases, go toE-Resources>Databases>By Subject
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Searching for Theses• Proquest Dissertations & Theses
• LINC• ScholarBank
Proquest Disserations & Theses
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no. of results
mark records for email or export to EndNote sort results by relevance
NUS Theses: LINC Advanced Search
To search for print theses submitted before 2004, use advanced search:
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NUS Theses: ScholarBank
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browse by department
Note: Master by Research & PhD from 2004 only
English langugage & literature
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More• Recap
• Troubleshooting search results• Evaluating information sources
• Appropriate use
Recap
• use synonyms and related words• create search statement using keywords plus AND, OR, NOT, ( ),
*, “ ”• select fields e.g. article title, abstract• limit search by type (article, books, reviews), date, peer-
reviewed, etc• sort results by relevance/date
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Quality (Relevance) vs. Quantity
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!
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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
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Appropriate Use
• library resources are for your research and study• use them responsibly • observe copyright guidelines for photocopying and printing
- 10% or 1 chapter of book- 1 article in a journal issue
• avoid excessive photocopying or downloading • copyright violations may have serious consequences
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Miscellaneous• Library privileges
• EndNote• Getting help
Library Privileges for Hons. Students
Borrowing• 30 books for 28 days
Document Delivery Services (DDS)• e-forms • must be approved by supervisor• 3 requests per year
Recommend purchase of new books• e-forms• no endorsement from supervisor needed• approximately 1 to 3 months to process
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EndNote
A software that:• stores and organizes citations • inserts citations into a Word document• formats references in a 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 [email protected]
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Watch EndNote video
Getting Help
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Phone: 6516-2029/30
Email: [email protected] (ELL queries)
[email protected] (general queries)
Walk in: information desk (CL, level 5)
Others: FAQsLibrary Instruction ONline (LION)Subject Guide
To download the slides: http://bit.ly/enslides
Thank You!
E-Survey: http://bit.ly/EN4271Sep06