Writing 2 - Moody

Library Class

The most important questions to consider when you start your searches

1. Are you using the right database? As you can see below, each database will help you find different types of sources, for example there are databases for encyclopedias, newspapers, journal articles, and books.
2. What should your searches look like? Unlike Google searches, library database searches need to be more structured.

List of Words: Even if you have a sentence/thesis or just an idea, start compiling a list of words about your topic. Make sure to include synonyms or alternative words (for your ideas) in your list. These words will be used to construct your search. The best place to find more keywords is in the library encyclopedias (See next section)

Constructing a search: Join the words with AND (unless the database already includes AND, like in Academic Search Complete). You should have as many words on your list as possible, that way if your first search doesn't work you have more words to work with.

For example:

global warming AND agriculture

global warming AND crops

Encyclopedia databases will help you find information to help you better understand your topic

Here are two good library encyclopedia databases:

• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• CQ Researcher

Strategies for looking up encyclopedia articles:

1. Search your the topic. Your search can be broad in the encyclopedias ("global warming" would be okay to search).

2. Once you find a useful article, click it to read it. This will help you figure out how to narrow down your search.

3. Print out or email yourself the reading (remember to underline new words and take notes) 

Library databases for finding sources to cite in your paper

Here are several library databases. Before each database is the type of source you will find in that database. In these databases you will have to be more specific about what you want than in encyclopedia (global warming AND agriculture):

• General articles (academic and popular): Academic Search Complete
• Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles: CSA Illumina or Project Muse
• Newspapers: Lexis Nexis or Proquest (for older newspapers)
• Books, Anthologies, & Government Documents: CRUZCAT (Tip: to find anthologies add "edited by" to your search; to find government documents limit the location to McHenry GovPubs in Advanced Search) 

Other useful library links

• To log to library databases from off-campus use: http://oca.ucsc.edu (requires your UCSC ID barcode number, remember to start your account at the library first)
• Other databases for Writing classes: http://library.ucsc.edu/Zope/eresources/bysubject/Writing
• Library research website: http://library.ucsc.edu/research.html

Contact me with any questions:

Annette Marines

amarines @ ucsc.edu