English (General)

English 1213

Career Assignment

Prepared by:
Sarah Brick Archer
Assistant Professor of Library Services
L308B
ext. #3267

The CLIP tutorials are FLASH routines designed to provide you with additional information about the library and its services.

Why do research?

Research can lead to information; information can lead to knowledge, and knowledge is powerful. All of the informational resources available originated from someone being curious about something, exploring it, and sharing the findings.

The Flow of Information (from the University System of Georgia) depicts how information about an event can be represented in different types of resources. Understanding how information is disseminated helps to know where to look and the attributes of each format.

How is the NSU library organized?

Maps
Physical Overview to the Library CLIP Tutorial
Library of Congress

Hours

Career Exploration:

Identify your interests and possible careers	1. Go to the Career Services Web site at NSU and register to use Focus. 2. Take the Myers-Briggs to determine your personality type. 3. Find your Suggested Careers for Myers Briggs Type and select careers from the list. 4. Go to the Occupational Information Network to find specific jobs for a career.
Check what majors tie in with specific careers Check what universities have specific majors	College Majors and Careers Ref. HF 5382.5.U5P445 Great Jobs for English Majors Ref. HF 5382.7.D43 Health Care Careers Directory Ref. R847.A1 D57 College Blue Book: Degrees Offered by College and Subject Ref. LA 226.C685 Vol.3 Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees Ref. L 901.C744
Explore the careers	Encyclopedia of Careers Ref. HF5381 .E52 JobStar Central Occupational Outlook Handbook Library Catalog (Nursing books are in Muskogee) NetLibrary E Book CLIP Tutorial
Look for articles about careers and read professional journals in the field.	Academic Search Premier (general journal index) E Journals CLIP Tutorial Masterfile Premier (magazines) NewsBank Newsfile (Oklahoma newspapers) Library of Congress Subject Guide to Databases
Check books and Web sites for cover letter & resume guidance	Library Catalog NetLibrary JobStar Central's Resume & Cover Letter Page
Check job availability	FedWorld’s Search for a Federal Government Job Monster.com Oklahoma Job Link USA Jobs Workforce Oklahoma Job Seekers
Explore locations	ACCRA Cost of Living Index Ref. HB 235 .U6C58 Places Rated Almanac Ref. HN 60.S284 Sperling's Best Places

General research concepts

Keyword vs. controlled vocabulary, boolean logic
Research Strategies CLIP Tutorial

Locating Internet resources

Internet Search Engines Available

Some (hopefully) reliable approaches to finding good Web sources:

The Internet Public Library
Librarians' Index to the Internet
JVL NSU Subject Listing of Web Resources
Subject Resources CLIP Tutorial

Assess the quality of the Web sites listed below:
Feline Reactions to Bearded Men

Critically assessing sources

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? On Web pages, do the links work?
3. Does the publisher have a good reputation? Is it published by a professional association or university press? Is the journal refereed? On Web pages, check the domain (.edu is educational, .gov is government, .com is commercial, .net is network, .org is organizational)
4. How was the resource received by the critics?
5. Completeness of the material. Does the source have an index, bibliography?
6. Is the language slanted or biased?
7. Does it include well known facts or research studies? Is the information complete, accurate, objective?
8. What is the purpose of the resource? Is it for the general public, children, scholars? Is the goal to market persuade, educate?

Am I done yet?

Have you tried, books, magazines, journals, newspapers, government publications, Internet sources, interviews, audio visuals? If not, you aren't done! Remember, research is empowering.

How do I cite sources using M.L.A. style?

The CLIP Tutorial on Citations and Plagiarism provides a good overview to citing resources. The M.L.A. Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is located on the first floor at the call number, Ready Ref. LB 2369.G53. Also, try the MLA and Purdue OWL Web sites. For help in citing sources, try KnightCite Bibliography Machine.

How do I acquire materials not available at NSU?

Interlibrary loan is available free of charge in which books and copies of articles can be borrowed from other libraries. Allow approximately two weeks for interlibrary loan requests to be received.

How do I find these library resources through the Web?

Many of the resources listed above are available throug the John Vaughan Library Home Page. Through the use of EZProxy software, these resources may be used from any location.

Prepared by Sarah Brick Archer, November 15, 2004. Revised February 19, 2009.

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