Introduction to Research in the Proctor Library

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English Composition II

• Introduction to Research in the Proctor Library
• Caryn Keshner

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Simple vs. Advanced Searching

• Allows you to search for broad information, or
  very specific information
• You use the simple search to find an author or
  title
• One search term/phrase at a time

• Allows you to build a more detailed/accurate
  search
• Several search terms/phrases at a time
• Usually you have more options for limiting the
  search conducted

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Boolean Logic

• AND searching for two or more terms in the
  same record, animals AND symbolism
• OR searching for one or the other term in a
  record, animals OR symbolism
• NOT searching for one term, but not the
  other, animals NOT symbolism

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Searching

• First, determine what it is you are trying to
  find
• Then, determine if a simple or an advanced search
  will work best?
• Third, figure out which keywords you think you
  will find your topic under
• Do not limit yourself to just one or two
  keywords, use a thesaurus to find all possible
  related terms

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Searching, cont.

• Some databases provide a built in thesaurus, but
  sometimes it is called something else
• Try a subject search. Subjects are keywords that
  have been approved for official use within a
  librarys catalog, or within the databases
• Do not limit yourself to just the subject terms
  found in one catalog or database, use them in
  other catalogs or databases too

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Article access

• HTML/ full-text someone has typed the article
  back into the computer
• PDF a scanned copy of the article online
• Article-linker/360 search will take you either
  to the article in another Proctor Library
  database, or tells you we do not have it available

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Article not available

• If the article is not available in one of the
  librarys databases or in-print you can fill out
  an InterLibrary Loan request online at
  http//www.flagler.edu/library/ill.html, or on a
  paper copy found at the circulation desk
• Peggy Dyess asks that you give her at least 2
  weeks to get you the item you need for your paper

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Citing

• MLA RREF LB2369 .G52 2003
• APA RREF BF76.7 .P83 2001
• Chicago- RREF Z253 .U69 2003
• Will want to cite in order to avoid plagiarism,
  the most extreme result being dismissal from
  school
• Showing where you got ideas from/ providing
  acknowledgement

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Citing, cont.

• Chapter 5
• 5.6 Citing Books
• 5.7 Citing Articles
• 5.9 Citing Electronic Documents

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Why to ask for help

• If you get stuck
• You cant find the information you need to
  write your paper
• You forget anything presented today
• We LOVE answering questions and are eager to
  help you no matter how insignificant the question