Drew
University Library
(http://www.depts.drew.edu/lib)
English 1
Fall 2006
Getting an overview:
Frequently, if you don’t know a great deal about a potential
research topic, it’s a good idea to try to get some background on the
topic, so that you have a broader context for your research. The public web
is sometimes a good place, although you should evaluate the source you use carefully.
Specialized encyclopedias, which have been thoroughly vetted by editors, and
reviewed by experts in their fields, may also be useful, particularly if your
topic has been around for a while, or if you're looking for contextualization
of a very recent event or topic. If you’re not familiar with any relevant
encyclopedias, check at the Reference Desk for recommendations. Examples of
specialized encyclopedias include:
Reference 305.8003 E56e |
Encyclopedia of modern ethnic conflicts, 2003. |
Cornell 200.321 E562e |
Encyclopedia of religion, 2005 |
Reference 150.3 E656e |
Encyclopedia of psychology, 2000. |
Reference 333.9503 E56e |
Encyclopedia of the biosphere, 2000. |
Planning your search:
Think about what types of information
sources are likely to be most useful for your topic.
Locating material:
Books:
To find books, go to the Drew Library Catalog
(http://catalog.drew.edu) Generally start with 'Keyword'
to search for common terms describing your topic. When you find books that seem
relevant, click on "Complete Record" and look at the "Subject
Term" entries to identify the specific phrases used to describe books on
the topic. Search those terms for more books.
Magazine and journal articles:
Articles are indexed through databases,
which vary in scope and depth. They're listed on Drew Library's Online
Resources (http://depts.drew.edu/lib/eresources/index.php), off
the Research Resources page,
sorted by whether they're a good place to start or better for very in-depth
research. Some possibilities for starting points:
If the broad databases are not pulling up any items, either rephrase your search or check one of the more specialized indexes listed under Humanities, Social Sciences or Sciences on Online Resources.
Public web sites:
Use directories such as Academic Info
(http://www.academicinfo.net/) or Librarians' Index to the Internet (http://lii.org/)
to locate recommended sites, and to get a sense of what's available.
For narrower searches, search engines like Google
will retrieve more focused results.
Drew University Library
Return to Jody Caldwell's homepage
http://www.users.drew.edu/~jcaldwel/eng1.htm
10/06