English 5033

Dr. Pamela Louderback

Information Services Librarian/Instructor

 

Office:
Northeastern State University - Broken Arrow
E235 Library (Broken Arrow Campus Library)
3100 E. New Orleans

Broken Arrow, OK 74014

Telephone (918) 449-6453
FAX (918) 449-6454
Email: louderba@nsuok.edu


 

Access

All the resources listed below may be accessed remotely 24/7 through the links listed below.

NSU Broken Arrow Library: http://library.nsuok.edu/nsuba/index.html

NSU John Vaughan Library Web Page: http://library.nsuok.edu/index.html

Library Hours of Operation

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Beginning your research                                                                
 

                   Topics

                                    Browse periodicals, professional web sites. Look for suggestions of needs for further research.

Check for a Call for Papers.
In your field, what doesn't make sense or what interests you?
As you read, narrow your topic.

Ways to narrow topic include geographically, by date, by specific interest group, by issue.

Do cross disciplinary studies.
 

                     Critically assessing information


                                    1. Identify authors who are outstanding in their fields, determine the credentials of the author.  Does the author
                                        have a degree in the field, is the author a professor?
                                    2. Date of publication--is it recent?
                                    3. Does the publisher have a good reputation?
                                        Is it published by a professional association or university press?
                                        Is the journal refereed?
                                    4. How was the book received by the critics?
                                    5. Completeness of the material. Does it have an index, bibliography?
                                    6. Is the language slanted or biased?
                                    7. Does it include well known facts or research studies?
                                    8. Do the links work?
 

                        Approach to reference question

                                    1. State problem clearly. Identify desired outcomes.  State level of research (speech, term paper, dissertation).
                                    2. Identify where you have already looked. If you have found one good source on the topic, bring it.
                                    3. Identify type of resource that could answer the question.
                                    4. List the subject area of discipline
                                    5. If the reference collection is small, browse in the appropriate subject area by using the Library of Congress numbers.
                                    6. Check standard lists or footpaths.
                                    7. Ask for assistance.
 

                        Subject headings

                                    Library of Congres Subject Headings

            Keyword vs. controlled vocabulary

Boolean logic

Suggested Key-Word/ Subject Search Terms

 One of the first steps in creating a research plan is to select “key words” which best describe the topic you plan to research.

If you are unfamiliar with the terminology you may wish to refer to sources such as textbooks, dictionaries, and other reference resources in the field of study. Contact your instructor if you are unsure if a particular topic is appropriate. It is usually wise to make sure if you are on target with your topic before you begin to spend much time researching a project.

1.) Key terms to use individually and in combination with each other:                   Dickinson

feminis* (truncation)          

2.) Combine key words with Boolean operators (and, or, not).  Poe and criticism, gothic and novel 

3.) Phrase terms ie: literary criticism can be searched by placing the phrase in quotation marks “literary criticism”

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Books

Print format books are available by searching the NSU online catalog.

NSU Libraries Catalog: http://library2.nsuok.edu/

Arts and Letters Reference Sources by Sarah Brick Archer

Searches may be limited to just the Broken Arrow campus for convenience. Books available on the Tahlequah campus may be ordered for delivery to the Broken Arrow campus. It usually takes two to three days for materials to arrive via campus mail.

Locating book resources from other institutions:  WorldCat
                      

 Electronic books: NSU subscribes to two extensive electronic book services, NetLibrary and Ebrary.

Netlibrary provides full-text access to over 40,000 academic books to NSU students 24/7.  

Ebrary provides full-text access to almost 30,000 academic books to NSU students 24/7. 

You may access these ebooks at the following link: http://library.nsuok.edu/Refdesk/vrdbks.html

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Article Databases and Indexes

 Journal articles may be accessed through our various online databases available through the following link:

Articles page: http://library.nsuok.edu/Indexes/index.html

Recommended Databases

            EbscoHost: (contains the following relevant databases. You may search multiple databases simultaneously)

            Wilson Omnifile

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Assessing the quality of Web sites:

Feline Reactions to Bearded Men


http://library.nsuok.edu/collegela/lang/eng1213suse.html

Bibliography and References Citation Format Guides:

            MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA)                    Call #    LB2369.G53 2003 Reference

MLA Electronic Style Guides   

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Useful General Internet Search Engines

 Search engines page http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~messner/eresearch/e%20research.htm

Internet Search Engines Available

The Internet Public Library
JVL NSU Subject Listing of Web Resources
Librarians' Index to the Internet
Search Engines Showdown

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Need Help?   


 


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This page maintained by Pamela Louderback

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Copyright Northeastern State University

Pamela Louderback, BA, MLIS, Ed.D.
For problems or questions regarding this web page contact Pamela Louderback
Last updated: 05/19/08.