This presentation is an introduction to research vocabulary and strategies. The target audience is students enrolled in WRIT095: Developmental Writing at Montana State University Great Falls. Download the presentation for audio.
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Using Academic Search Premier: A Beginner’s Guide to Library Research This presentation was developed for WRIT 095: Developmental Writing at Montana State University Great Falls by Jana Carter during the Fall 2009 semester
Transcript
1. Using Academic Search Premier: A Beginners Guide to Library
Research
This presentation was developed for
WRIT 095: Developmental Writing at
Montana State University Great Fallsby Jana Carter during the Fall
2009 semester
2. Game plan
Get your ideas on paper before you begin looking for information.
Write an outline, make a mind map, or take extensive notes before
you hit the library!
3. What is an index or database?
Like any list of contacts, but searchable by any criteria you can
think of (keyword, author, title, subject, date, publication, to
name a few)
The Librarys databases provide full-text articles from publications
from all over the world
The Librarys databases also provide a pre-screened content you dont
have to worry about whether its true, only about whether its
relevant to your paper
4. What it looks like
5. Anatomy of Academic Search Premier
Search boxes. There are three blank fields in which you will enter
your search terms.
Search Options. There are check boxes and dropdown menus to help
you set limiters and expanders.
6. Search terms and limiters
A search term is a word related to your topic
Look for the intersection of your search terms
Be flexible look for synonyms, fewer terms, more terms, or use the
subject terms that the database suggests if youre not getting good
results
Narrow the search by setting limiters set the source type,
publication year, or full-text options to modify results
7. Choosing search terms
In this case, the search terms are too vague
In this case, the search terms are more specific
8. Accessing the Indexes & Databases
Follow these hops to get to Academic Search Premier
Start at the Weaver Librarys Indexes & Databases homepage,
http://library.msugf.edu/IndexesDatabases.html, then click Academic
Search Premier, and click View site.
If youre planning on working at home, stop by the Library so that
the staff can set you up with a Proxy account!
9. Refining search results
Its essential to stay flexible! Look for synonyms, fewer terms,
more terms, or use the subject terms that the database suggests if
youre not getting good results
Brainstorm with a classmate! Talking through your ideas may give
you a useful perspective and good ideas
Ask for help when you get stuck! Both your instructor and the
Librarys staff are old hands asking is relatively
painless