Transcript Starting Your Research

AIS 304
AMERICAN INDIAN LAW
Library Instruction
Fall 2009
Mary S. Woodley
818-677-6302
[email protected]
http://library.csun.edu/mwoodley
WHAT IS THE ASSIGNMENT?
Paper, Presentation, Annotated Bibliography?
 Due date – when is the last date for ILL
 Types of publications?
 Citation Style?
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http://library.csun.edu/Find_Resources/e-books/estylegd.html
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AAA Style Guide
http://www.aaanet.org/pubs/style_guide.htm
WHERE TO START?
Assignment
Develop a
Topic
Words to
Search by
Where to find
books, articles
Types of
Resources
BASIC SEARCH STRATEGIES:
WORDS TO SEARCH BY
Jargon
 Keyword
 Controlled vocabulary – Subject
words/phrases
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BASIC SEARCH STRATEGIES:
PUTTING CONCEPTS TOGETHER
Boolean operator and
Indians of
North
America
motion
pictures
Venn diagrams serve as a visual expression of the Boolean
operations
BASIC SEARCH STRATEGIES:
PUTTING CONCEPTS TOGETHER
Boolean operator or
Indians of North
America
Native
Americans
TRUNCATION

Symbol used at the end of a word to retrieve variant endings of that word.
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Allows you to search the "root" form of a word with all its different endings.
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Broadens or increases search results. Truncation = OR
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Example: teen* retrieves teen OR teens OR teenager OR teenagers

However: india* retrieves indian, indians but also india, indiana,

Use OR instead to maintain meaning: indian or indians
NEED A BOOK?
1. Search the Library's online catalog. Try
searching using the keyword search.
2. Write down the floor location of the book
and the call number where the book will
be found on the shelf
HOW CALL NUMBERS WORK
NEED AN ARTICLE?
Popular magazines
 Trade publications
 Scholarly publications

All three may be available in print or online or
both
TYPES OF PERIODICALS
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
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Authors are authorities in their fields.
Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or
bibliographies.
Individual issues have little or no advertising.
Illustrations usually take the form of charts and graphs.
POPULAR MAGAZINES
AND NEWSPAPERS

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Authors are magazine staff members
or
free lance writers.
Authors often mention sources, but rarely formally
cite them in bibliographies.
Individual issues contain numerous advertisements.
There is no peer review process.
Articles are meant to inform and entertain.
Illustrations may be numerous and colorful.
Language is geared to the general adult audience
(no specialized knowledge of jargon needed).
TYPES OF PERIODICALS:
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

Articles must go through a peer-review or refereed process.
Scholarly/academic articles that are read by academic or scholar "referees" for advice and
evaluation of content when submitted for publication. Referees recommend to the
editor/editorial board whether the article should be published as is, revised, or rejected. Also
sometimes know as "peer-reviewed" articles.


Articles are usually reports on scholarly research.
Articles use jargon of the discipline.
INTERNET RESOURCES VS.
SURFING THE WEB
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Internet Resources include:

Internet accessible databases and journals
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Use a Web interface
Usually require subscription
 Exception: ERIC Wizard
Equivalent to print indexes and journals
Authoritative and reliable
Surfing the Web:

Use free search engines
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E.G.: Yahoo, Google, HotBot
Critical evaluation required
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Anyone can put up a Web page!
Evaluating Web pages (http://library.csun.edu/mwoodley/Webeval.html)
EVALUATING PRINT & ELECTRONIC
RESOURCES
World Wide Web sites come in many sizes and styles. How do you distinguish a
site that gives reliable information from one that gives incorrect information?
Below are some guidelines to help.
Types of Web Sites: the url is a key
.gov
.edu
.org
.com
Authority
Content & Coverage
Timeliness
Accuracy
Objectivity