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Library
&
Information
Research:
Humanities |
|
|
Library
&
Information
Research:
Humanities |
Name_________________________
Assignment #8
Part I: Finding Articles on any topic.
On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions:
1. If working in pairs, choose two of the topics listed below; if working alone choose one of the topics listed below (but not your own or your partner's). Write down which topic you picked.2. Break the topic down into key concepts. What are the main points?
3. What terms would you use to search for information on this topic in general either in a catalog or periodical database (in other words, what are they key words you would use to search for this topic?)?
4. How would you start researching this topic? Be specific, including names of sources you might try.
4. Name databases and/or periodical indexes you would use to find articles on this topic.
5. Pick one of the databases/indexes you listed above. What search string would you use to find articles on this topic? Be specific! (ex. For topic X, I would search X database because blah, blah, blah. I would do a subject search. No need to limit to peer-reviewed because this database only has scholarly journals. My search would be: (word or word or word) and word$ - the truncation symbol for this database.) * You don't have to actually do the search (unless that would be helpful) but you have to describe the process.
6. What additional comments, questions, ideas do you have for searching this topic?
Topics:
• Representations of Hera in the Iliad.• The Beth Book and Sarah Grand
• The Victorian Novel and the Emerging New Woman
• Alien Abduction: Truth or Fiction
• Christmas Decorations - Religious Iconography or Something Else
• How Railroads Impacted Regional Areas in Northern California
• What Makes American English American? Influences of a Multicultural Population in the Shaping of American Language.
• Wedding Customs Throughout the World
• Comparison of the Films of Sergio Leone and Akira Kurosawa
• What is the Value of Art?
• The Art of John Copley
Part II. Periodical Indexes and Databases
1. Why are book reviews useful?
2. Using Book Review Digest, either in print or through First Search, find a review for a scholarly work on the soap opera "Guiding Light" or any other soap opera.
a. Did you use the electronic or print version? If print, what volume?
b. What search string and/or terms did you use? Be specific.
c. Cite the article you found using MLA citation style (Hint: section 4.7 shows how to cite articles).
3. What observations do you have about searching the different databases?
4. If you don't know how to cite a source, what can you do?
5. Continue finding articles for your topic using any index or database.