Library Instruction for the Research Paper Assignment

Freshman Composition I - Library Instruction for the Research Paper Assignment

Dr. Sheila Collins
Dean of Libraries
Office: L214D
Phone: 444-3211
collin07@nsuok.edu

Welcome to the John Vaughan Library! The library hours and maps are available to provide general information about the library. Materials are arranged by subject using the Library of Congress Classification System.

The John Vaughan Library Physical Overview tutorial provides introductory material to the library's collections and services. Use the library tutorials to reinforce topics that are covered in class.

Your assignment is to write an analytical and persuasive paper that supports your position on a topic. You must read what authorities have written about the topic and then write a paper in which you draw your own conclusions about the topic. You must synthesize information from many different sources to create a paper that is your own. To be successful, you must know how to utilize library resources.

Below is a chart showing the kinds of materials available in the library that will be needed to complete your assignment. Use this chart with any project to help determine what resources would be useful.

Type of Reference

Where to Find It

How to Use It

Why It Is Useful

Librarians	Reference Desk, Middle of 1st floor	Ask a Librarian Research Help Call ext. #3240	Provide research assistance
New York Times Index other newspapers	Index AI 21.N44, East side of 1st floor	Provides subject access to the New York Times paper. Contains full text articles. Newspaper Source	The New York Times provides general news articles on all subjects from 1851 to the present.
Encyclopedias	Reference collection, "AE" section, 1st floor. Other encyclopedias arranged by subject. Try Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopaedia	Use the general alphabet or the index volume to locate a subject.	Provides an overview and starting place for topics.
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Subject Dictionaries	Reference collection, 1st floor Ref. PE 1625.O87 1991 Reference collection, 1st floor	Available OED Online or in print. Use the alphabet to locate a word. Available in print arranged by subject. (See LC call number section)	Provides definition, history, and usage guidance.
Books	Main collection, 3rd floor, arranged by subject. Also available in electronic format.	Author, title, or subject searches using the Library Catalog.	Provides in-depth information on a topic.
Magazines	Periodicals, 2nd floor, arranged by subject.	Search Masterfile Premier or Readers' Guide for full text articles	Provides general, current information on specific topics.
Journals	Periodicals, 2nd floor, arranged by subject.	For a general journal index, try Academic Search Premier. To locate other journal indexes, try Articles and Databases.	Provides current information on scholarly topics.
Government Publications	All three floors, available through the Library Catalog	Library Catalog Government Information	Publications prepared by federal and state agencies.
Special Collections, Delores Sumner, Librarian, ext. #3252	2nd floor, south, rm. #222 Hours M-F 8:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.	All of the materials are indexes on the Library Catalog	Contains Native American and Oklahoma history materials.
Internet	Reference, 1st floor	Use search engines Infomine The Internet Public Library JVL NSU Subject Listing of Web Resources	Current, full text information.

How do I Locate Resources not Available at NSU?

For resources not available at the John Vaughan Library, you can order materials from other libraries using the ILLiad system for interlibrary loans. 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.

Where can I Locate an M.L.A. Style Manual?

The M.L.A. Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is located on the first floor at the call number, Ref. LB 2369.G53. Also, try the MLA Web site and the Purdue OWL. For additional help in citing sources, try KnightCite Bibliography Machine. Indiana University has a good guide on plagiarism.

How do I get help?

The reference librarians are here to help you. Feel free to contact a librarian directly through Meebo, by email, or by phone. You can go to the Reserve Desk and ask for help or to have a librarian called to assist you.