Modern Languages Research Methods Sept 2012

Cornelia Penner

September 2012

Modern Languages: an introduction to Champlain Library Resources

What we’ll cover today

Information sources for your assignment

How to evaluate sourcesResearch log

Information Sources:

Printed reference booksCREDO ReferenceMagillOnLiterature Plus

Why use encyclopedias and other reference books?

Brief articles/entriesAuthoritative informationConcise explanation/overview of a topic

Dictionaries More than just for

languages!               Alphabetical listing of

words Provides meanings,

definitions, or brief explanations

Usually short entries (about one paragraph)

Encyclopedias

• not just general encyclopedias – try subject encyclopedias instead!• usually lengthier information than a dictionary

Encyclopedia

Companion

Dictionary

Handbook

Guide

Tips for searching:

Encyclopedias and dictionaries usually have a way to indicate that a term used in an article is also the subject of its own article (bold, italics, capital letters, asterisk)

SEE, SEE ALSO Is there an index?

History-Try a timeline/chronology-Then try an encyclopedia or dictionary for more detail

Art-Look up an artist, artwork, school of art, or artistic movement in an art dictionary or encyclopedia

Literature

-Look up a text, author, literary movement in a literary encyclopedia or dictionary-Look up an author in a biographical dictionary

600+ encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference books

Published books which have been put online

All subject areas Search them all at once!

An EbscoHost product Literary topics only No journal/magazine articles Search lots of reference books at

once?

MagillOnLiterature Plus

Evaluating Your Sources

Is it relevant? UnlockingResearch -- Relevance

Is it of appropriate quality? UnlockingResearch -- Quality

Evaluating for QUALITY

Apply the CRAP test:CurrencyReliabilityAuthorityPurpose

Keeping Track of Your Research

Use a Research Log

Let’s search!