Carmen Genuardi, M'L'I'S' Information Services Librarian

1
Carmen Genuardi, M.L.I.S.Information Services
Librarian

• EAC 150Researching Authors

2
From Information Consumer to Information
Producers.Yes You Can!

• Springboards! References Sources-Print Online.
• Overview of Learning Commons Library Catalogue.
• Searching Research Databases for
• Journal, Magazine and Newspaper Articles
• Citing Sources using MLA Style Guide
• Where else can you look? Other libraries to try!
• Internet Sourceswhats good out there?
• Please ask if you have questions along the way!

3
Starting Your Research...

• 1. What kind of information am I looking for?
• 2. Where and how do I search for this
  information?
• 3. Once I have found some information, how can I
  tell if it is useful? How do I find more similar
  information? Evaluate!

4
Basic Rules

• Know where to look.
• If you cannot find it in 20 minutes, ask for
  help. Help Desk.
• Just because it exists does not mean you can get
  it. Not everything is online!
• Repeat, if necessary.

5
Beginning Your Research

• What kind of information am I looking for?
• Facts?
• Research?
• News?
• Current? Historical?

6
What Am I looking for? Types of
Information
( Print / Paper )

• Books
• Encyclopedias
• Directories
• Almanacs/Yearbooks
• Magazines/Journals/Newspapers
• Atlas
• Internet/World Wide Web

7
Types of Sources (1)

• Sources of information are books, e-books,
  encyclopedia, directories, almanacs, articles
  from periodicals, internet sites.
• Current news, events, research periodicals such
  as newspapers, magazines, journals.
• Facts, definitions, summaries almanac, atlas,
  dictionary, directory, encyclopedia, handbook,
  thesauri, yearbook.
• In-depth analysis of a subject bibliography,
  biography, guide, report books.

8
Sources of Information (2)

• Magazines
• - popular work
• - written for layperson
• - glossy, coloured
• - many pictures and photographs
• - ads
• - available from supermarkets and convenient
  stores

• Journals
• - scholarly work
• - articles are written by experts in the field
  for a limited audience
• - abstract, keywords
• - references / bibliography
• - peer reviewed

VS.
9
Sources of Information (3)

• Primary Sources
• Original document, contemporary account
• Autobiography
• Newspaper article reporting on an event
• Interview, speech
• Diary, letter, advertisements

• Secondary Sources
• Interpretation, summary of a primary source
• Biography
• Journal article
• Documentary
• Conference proceeding

VS.

• Tertiary Sources
• Interpretation, summary of secondary sources
• Encyclopedia, Dictionary

10
What if you had to

• find information on the author
• Margaret Atwood

11

• How?What do I need
• to get started?
• What do I want?

12

1. Define a Topic
2. Write aResearch Question
What has been written about Margaret Atwood and
criticism about her literature?
Margaret Atwood Literature/Criticism/ Biography
4. ChooseAlternate Keywords
3. Choose Keywords
Canadian writers, literary works
Margaret Atwood, Canadian, Criticism,
Literature, biography
5. Build a SearchStatement
Creating an Effective Search
Margaret Atwood AND Criticism
6. Execute the Search
Select the correct resource(s)!
7. Review theSearch Results
Title, author, subject terms, references.
13
Using Boolean Operators

• OR - broadens a search
• Margaret Atwood OR Canadian Writers
• AND - narrows a search
• Margaret Atwood AND Biography
• phrase narrows a search even more
• Margaret Atwood
• (wildcard) get alternate endings of a word
• Biograph , Critici
• NOT excludes specific terms
• Bruce Hunter and NOT comedian

14
Boolean Operators
Margaret Atwood
Biography
Atwood
Margaret Laurence
AND
OR
Atwood
Laurence
Not
15
Reference SourcesA good place to start your
Research!

• Some good print REFERENCE sources for literary
  information
• The Canadian Encyclopedia REF FC 23.C36 1999
• The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature REF
  PS 8015.093 2001
• Canadian Whos Who REF FC25 .C35

16
http//www.learningcommons.senecacollege.ca
17
Reference Sources Online
18
Reference Sources Online

• Biographygt Lives, The Biography Resource
• Encyclopediasgt The Canadian Encyclopedia Online
• Dictionariesgt The Concise Oxford Dictionary
• Reference Metasitesgt Oxford Reference Online

19
The Canadian Encyclopedia Subject Index
Select Literature
20
Enter search terms in search box
21
Reference Metasite gt Oxford Reference Online
22
Oxford Reference Online
23
The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature
Lastname, Firstname
24
(No Transcript)
25
Using the Library Catalogue

• The Library Catalogue allows you to
• Search (Quick, Title, Author, ISBN ) or Browse
  for print and e-books and periodicals.
• Set Limits to narrow down results.
• View Results (sort if necessary).
• Save, Print or Email Records.
• Place Requests (Inter-Campus Loan), Check Fines,
  Renew books.

26
Search the Library Catalogue
27
Subject Search for Author
28
Subject Search is very specific and you retrieve
items ABOUT the Author and their work.
29
Results
Select Relevant Item
30
Place Request for Inter-Campus Loan
Place Request
Subject Headings Find more similar items!
Location
Need this Citation Information for your Works
Cited Page.
31
Place Request, you can pick it up in 2 days at
the Circulation Desk
32
Research by Subject
33
Research by Subjectgt Literature
34
Research by Subject Literature
35
(No Transcript)
36
Accessing the Site (LCO)

• http//learningcommons.senecacollege.ca
• Seneca campus and residence
• From your home computer
• (Seneca dial-up vs. non-Seneca ISP)
• Important To gain access to our Web resources
  outside the campus, log in with your Seneca
  e-mail (learn) username and password when prompted

37
Gale Net Library Database
38
Full-Text Articles!
39
(No Transcript)
40
Research Library
Start off broad with your search.
41
Results of Search in Research Library Database
Articles have been grouped.
Need ALL this information for your Works Cited
Page.
42
More search terms
Narrow down search by using AND between terms.
Click here to read whole article online.
43
New! Magazines NewspapersSearches Many
Databases at Once
44
(No Transcript)
45
(No Transcript)
46
(No Transcript)
47
Where else can I look?Local Public Library
48
Free Web
Information is business, and often, you get
what you pay for
49
Research by Subjectgt Internet Sites
50

• When you find something, dont forget

51
Is this Information Useful? Evaluate your
results!

• Authority
• Date
• Subject/Topic Coverage
• Bias (peer-reviewed)

Consult LCO -gt Getting Started -gt How to
Evaluate
52
Plagiarism and you
According to the Seneca College Student Handbook,
plagiarism is
the inclusion of anothers words, phrases,
sentences or entire passages of work which you
claim as your own. (129)
Turnitin Software is _at_ Seneca
53
(No Transcript)
54
(No Transcript)
55
And of Course...

• If you have any questions or
• need help finding information,
• dont forget the Reference Desk
• 4164915050 Ext. 3038

56

• Good Luck!
• http//people.senecac.on.ca/carmen.genuardi