For your topic paper you will want to use a variety of resources: books, journal articles from databases, and credible web sites. Use the database page to find links for the databases and online catalog for books. There are also ebooks available through Ebsco and MackinVia. Use the search engine page to find credible web sites.
Choosing a topic: Sirs has lists of topics, Points of View has topics to choose from
Research:
Search Techniques for card catalog:
use a Keyword search
use Boolean searches (and, or, not): alcohol NOT fiction
Think of related words: if your topic is "colon cancer" try just cancer or diseases
Use table of contents or index in the books to help you.
Try a variety of searches; don’t give up after one search
Databases:
Sirs Knowledge Source: an excellent resource for papers. It contains leading issues, pro-con sides with articles supporting each side, notes organizer.
· leading issues: top pick a topic, some topics are marked “new”
Points of View: use the charts/graph link on the right of the page
Proquest:
· put in search; click full text (very important or may not get full text!!)
· results: use suggested topics, scholarly journals; you can choose between text or pdf file (abstract is a summary.)
· source citation: click on “cite this” in the toolbar—make sure you choose MLA!
Ebsco:
· by default has just one database selected, click on Choose Databases to select more
· limit to full text (very important!!!)
· Results: use subject headings on left to help you narrow results to a specific topic. Also look at the description; if it is a book review, it may not help you
· Use toolbar at top to save, email, etc. Source citation: Click on Cite this article in the toolbar and use the MLA citation
***For most databases, do NOT add an article to your favorites, use the tools to bookmark or save a site. Otherwise, you may only have a temporary URL and not the actual URL