English 1202 Research Guide

Searching for information is a process.

• Identify search terms you think are the most likely to help you find the best results. By repeatedly using those terms in different resources you will identify whether those terms are working for you. You might identify other terms along this path that are broader or narrower. Once you settle on the correct terms you will continue to search different resources because there is no one perfect resource that fits any topic. 
• Start Gathering Your Sources You might need to gather background research in a reference database like Credo, an encyclopedia, a biographical dictionary, a newspaper database, and/or a discipline-specific database to feel comfortable that you have search all the locations for your topic. The process can be quite time-consuming just to gather the information for your topic. It's important to think about what possible types of resources might help you and then search in all those places with your search terms.

The Library offers a number of search engines, known as databases, to help you find academic information efficiently. Most databases will help you find journal articles, while others search reference books, newspaper or magazine articles, images, or even maps. Choosing the right search tool is important. If you are unsure which one to use, Ask a Librarian!

You can use SHU Search to start your research in a number of ways.

You can put in a sample search like: Shakespeare and use the Research Starters to get overviews of a topic. These topic overviews will provide you with important context and background information, not to mention you can read the content closely for keywords that you can use to make your searches less broad.

For example, searching for "Shakespeare" in SHU Search is going to yield thousands of results, but searching for a keyword you find in a Research Starter that you find interesting like "Globe Theater" will likely yield more targeted results.

All of the sources listed above can be useful for getting started with your research, but often you will need to use a database to locate articles from academic journals or search the catalog to find books or ebooks to gather your main sources.

Here are links to help you with these next steps:

• Finding Articles in Databases
• Finding Books & eBooks

1) Make sure you know what kinds of information your professor requires or will accept.  Articles?  Books?  Music?  Interviews?

2) Be aware of different search tools that can help you find information.  The library has access to information that is not available on the open web.  It's okay if you don't know how to search using these library tools....they work differently from Google.  Here are a couple of examples:

• Academic Search Premier is an example of a database with references to articles in scholarly journals, newspapers and magazines, many with links to the full-text. 
• Library Catalogs search for information about books, movies, music and other materials owned by libraries.  Start searching in your college library's local catalog first. You'll need the call number to locate the item on the shelves.  

3) Don't give up if the library doesn't have  the article you want or the book you need.  Interlibrary loan is a system that allows patrons to borrow materials from other libraries.  It's a free service and most items arrive in less than a week. There are two ways to access materials via Interlibrary Loan: 

• Request a book through Interlibrary Borrowing if your library doesn't own the item you want.  Choose book and EZBorrow. This interlibrary loan system allows you to borrow books from participating academic libraries.
• Request online versions of magazine or journal articles that the library does not own via Interlibrary Borrowing. Then click on article to get into  ILLIAD.  Register for an Illiad account and the item will be delivered electronically to your account. 

4) Know where to ask for help if you get stuck or need more assistance.  Librarians are trained information professionals.  It's our job to help people find and access information. 

Now that you're familiar with some search tools,  let's see how to use them.  You have been assigned a paper on exploring some aspect of college students lives. Let's say you've narrowed down your topic and have decided to look for information about the impact of stress or anxiety on college students.  Your professor wants you to find a book or two and some articles in magazines scholarly journals.  Remember, that searching in the library catalog and databases is a little different than searching in Google. 

  Step by step: Searching for books by topic 

1) Go to the library web site and click on Search Books

2) Type in couple of key words, i.e. "college students" and "stress"  (note: just type in a word or two.  typing too many words will confuse the catalog)

3) Look for the call number and availability of the titles..... Call numbers starting from A through P--fourth floor. Call numbers starting Q through Z,--third floor. Reference books--second floor. 

Step by step: Searching for articles in a database:

1) Go to your library web site and click on "Find"  and select Databases  or use the "SHUSearch" screen....

2) If in databases, go to Academic Search Complete

2) type in "college students" and "stress", for example

3) Look for a PDF link beneath the article citations or or click on the "full text through linkSource" link