College English - Recently Updated Pages

How to Find Books

MadelTisi — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:42:11 CDT

Using the Online Catalog (OPAC)	YYour Librarian

Using the Online Catalog (OPAC)

YYour Librarian

Our library's catalog is called *OPAC* (Online Public Access Catalog). Use it it to find out what books, course reserves, government documents, DVDs, videos, CDs, and other materials we own and where they are located. NOTE: Do not use the catalog if you are looking for journal articles! To access journal articles go on the library's home page then under "Quick Links" click on Databases A-Z . We have 8 OPAC stations located near the reference and circulation desks. Click here to access our catalog. OPAC machines TIPS: Search the catalog using keywords to find materials Write out a few keywords on your topics and enter them into the search box. Don't write out a sentence. You will get zero results. Use quotation marks if you are using phrases as keywords. For example, "Capital Punishment" Use AND, OR or NOT to connect your keywords. For example, "Burma AND Conflict." If you get way too many hits try narrowing down your search terms. For example, use "Sex Trafficking." instead of "Sex." If you get no hits at all, do not despair! Check your spelling or use different keywords. *If all else fails, ask me or another Reference Librarian for help!* Finding online government documents and books in our catalog Documents Without Shelves Collection: Online access to U.S. documents and books via the online catalog To limit your search to this collection, go to More Limits (right-hand side of the screen) and scroll down the Location Bar to select Documents Without Shelves This collection includes U.S. Government publications ranging from one-page reports to 300-page books Books will be accessible by chapter or section HINT: Don't click on print until you're sure of what you're printing! Other things the catalog offers: My Account: use this link to check your library record. You can RENEW your books here and see if you have fines.	This guide was made for your class by: Madel Tisi ASK ME! My Reference Desk Schedule: Tuesdays 12:00 - 1:00pm Fridays 2:30pm - 4:30pm My Q&ANJ Schedule: Mondays 12:00-1:00pm Contact Info: Office 201-684-7510 (L-202B) Reference Desk x7574 mtisi@ramapo.edu Friend me!

Our library's catalog is called OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog). Use it it to find out what books, course reserves, government documents, DVDs, videos, CDs, and other materials we own and where they are located. NOTE: Do not use the catalog if you are looking for journal articles! To access journal articles go on the library's home page then under "Quick Links" click on Databases A-Z .

We have 8 OPAC stations located near the reference and circulation desks. Click here to access our catalog.

OPAC machines

TIPS:

Search the catalog using keywords to find materials
- Write out a few keywords on your topics and enter them into the search box.
- Don't write out a sentence. You will get zero results.
- Use quotation marks if you are using phrases as keywords. For example, "Capital Punishment"
- Use AND, OR or NOT to connect your keywords. For example, "Burma AND Conflict."
- If you get way too many hits try narrowing down your search terms. For example, use "Sex Trafficking." instead of "Sex."
- If you get no hits at all, do not despair! Check your spelling or use different keywords.
- If all else fails, ask me or another Reference Librarian for help!

Finding online government documents and books in our catalog

Documents Without Shelves Collection: Online access to U.S. documents and books via the online catalog
- To limit your search to this collection, go to More Limits (right-hand side of the screen) and scroll down the Location Bar to select Documents Without Shelves
- This collection includes U.S. Government publications ranging from one-page reports to 300-page books
- Books will be accessible by chapter or section
- HINT: Don't click on print until you're sure of what you're printing!

Other things the catalog offers:

My Account: use this link to check your library record. You can RENEW your books here and see if you have fines.

This guide was made for your class by:

Madel Tisi

ASK ME!

My Reference Desk Schedule:

Tuesdays 12:00 - 1:00pm Fridays 2:30pm - 4:30pm

My Q&ANJ Schedule:
Mondays 12:00-1:00pm

Contact Info:
Office 201-684-7510 (L-202B)
Reference Desk x7574
mtisi@ramapo.edu

Friend me!

Picking A Topic

Picking A Topic

Selecting a topic for a research paper or project can be very challenging. You will want to select a topic that is of interest to you. This will make the research, reading and writing less of a chore.(TIP: Always start with a broad topic. It is easier to eliminate information as you write than it is to start with too little.) It is a good idea to wait to decide on a topic until you do some preliminary searching for books, articles, and web-based resources. If you can't find enough, you will want the flexibility to select a new topic.

Selecting a topic for a research paper or project can be very challenging. You will want to select a topic that is of interest to you. This will make the research, reading and writing less of a chore.(TIP: Always start with a broad topic. It is easier to eliminate information as you write than it is to start with too little.) It is a good idea to wait to decide on a topic until you do some preliminary searching for books, articles, and web-based resources. If you can't find enough, you will want the flexibility to select a new topic.

Reference Sources

Reference Sources

A great start to preliminary research is browsing the REFERENCE SECTION in the library (located on the 3rd floor). Here are some suggested reference books for your class:

International Encyclopedia of Human Rights: Freedom, Abuses, and Remedies (REF JC571.M3243 2000)
Describes the concepts and terms, agreements, people, and organizations that help guarantee human rights for all around the world.

The Human Rights Encyclopedia (REF JC571.L523 2001)
A 3-volume encyclopedia, divided into two main sections: countries, and Issues and Individuals.

The Gay Rights Movement (REF HQ76.8.u5G385 2001)
Presents a collection of New York Times articles illustrating the development of gay and lesbian rights throughout the 30th century.

Encyclopedia of Modern Ethnic Conflicts (REF GN 496.E56 2003)
Focuses on 38 ethnic conflicts, presented with a timeline and extensive essay covering the conflict's details, historical background, management and significance. Sources for further reading are provided.

Wounds of War (REF JZ6530.L35 2004)
A great source for statistical and visual resources on the impact of war, recent wars and armed conflicts and a timeline of women and peace.

World at Risk: A Global Issues Sourcebook (REF JZ1242.W67 2002)
A detailed source covering major global issues, such as arms control, cultural preservation, development aid, genocide, human rights, war crimes, etc. Points to further reading and directories.

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (online access) (Print: REF E169.1.S764)
Available both in print and electronic format.

Beacham's Encyclopedia of Social Change : America in the Twentieth Century (REF HN59.2.B43 2001)
Multi-volume encyclopedic set. Organized in alphabetical order and then by time. Pictures and statistical information included.

A history of American higher education (REF LA226 .T45 2004)
A good and detailed resource on the development of higher education in America from the colonial era to 2000.

The Advertising Age: Encyclopedia of Advertising (REF HF 5803 .A38 2003)
Multi-volume encyclopedic set on advertising. Contains many images, both color and black and white.

College English Home

MadelTisi — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:48:37 CDT

WELCOME!
ENG 180-1: College English
Prof. Yvette Kisor
March 12, 2009 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Using the George T. Potter Library

Tips to jumpstart your library research

By Madel Tisi

(Thanks to Leigh Keller for some of the contents)

If you need research assistance please contact:

Madel Tisi (mtisi@ramapo.edu) x7510

Reference Desk: 201-684-7574

Q&ANJ.org

Avoiding Plagiarism & Citing Your Paper

MadelTisi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:41:12 CST

Citing Sources

Use Citing Sources for examples of "In-Text Citations" and "Works Cited"

Help with the MLA Citation Style and examples

Books on MLA style:

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers / Joseph Gibaldi. Call Number: LB2369.G53 2003 (Available from the Circulation Desk.)	MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. Call Number: PN147.G444. (Available from the Circulation Desk.)

Electronic Sources
Here are some common features you should try and find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Always include as much information as is available/applicable:

Author and/or editor names
Name of the database, or title of project, book, article
Any version numbers available
Date of version, revision, or posting
Publisher information
Date you accessed the material
Electronic address, printed between carets ([<, >]).

Web Resources

MadelTisi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:20:24 CST

Be smart about the sites you use!

Evaluating Websites : Check this out to determine if the web site is authoritative enough to use in your paper.

Evaluating the Internet : This is a tutorial designed to help you critically look at the information you find on the Internet.

Some Useful Websites
- Educator's Reference Desk Search for citations to education-related journal articles and other documents. Also included, the Eric Clearinghouses offer diverse relevant subjects, and the InfoGuides and Lesson Plans are full-text, and all are searchable.
- World Data on Education Features profiles on over 100 countries including government spending, enrollment, priorities and concerns, and more.
- CuriaWebsite of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
- EuropolWeb site of the European Law Enforcement Cooperation.
- University at Albany Government Information Selected Internet resources on the United Nations and world issues.
- Europol PublicationsLinks to .pdf versions of Europol documents including their annual report, the European Union Organizaed Crime Situation Report, and serious crime overviews.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)Promotes the protection of intellectual property worldwide.
- Law and Politics Internet GuideWell organized and annotated collection by Randy Roberts, University of Texas.

Additional websites may be found on the Potter Library's suggested Subject Resources page.

More Library Sources

MadelTisi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:52:54 CST

Find specific journals in our library

Use the JournalFinder to locate the full-text of journals in our library. These can be either online or in print.

For Example: You found a book or an article that is very useful. Use the footnotes or bibliography to help you locate a JOURNAL from that bibliography.

Here's what you found:

Bowden, Tom. "The Politics of Arab Rebellion in Palestine, 1936-1939." Middle Eastern Studies 11 (May 1975): 147-174.

Here's what you do:
- Go to Journal Finder and type in the name of the journal (Middle Eastern Studies)
- If we get the journal, check the dates and get the article either electronically or in print
- If we don't get the journal, use Interlibrary Loan

Use interlibrary loan

Use InterlibraryLoan if we don't have a book or article that you need

Fill out the online form using your Ramapo Email (it will not be processed without that email address)

CAUTION: give yourself time (it can take longer than 2 weeks in some cases)

How to Find Journal Articles

MadelTisi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:50:34 CST

Find articles using the databases

These databases are for finding journal articles
They are available 24/7 ONLY to Ramapo students
Off campus use requires login: Ramapo email and password

Strategies for searching the databases

Always switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
Always use Boolean Operators-AND, OR, NOT when running a search.
- AND: narrows your search ex: kenya and conflict
- OR: broadens your search ex: (college or higher education) and "liberal arts education"
- "NOT: eliminates ex: "higher education" not (elementary or secondary education)

Always go back and revise your searches! Look at using different terms and synonyms.

Always check your Spelling if the database results are Zero.

To look for full-text use the: check availablity at Ramapo, primary catalog, or check availability links in the databases

Use the Subject Terms or Thesaurus link in databases to find the best search terms to use

Some useful Databases for your projects:

General Databases
CQ Researcher	The CQ Researcher is a weekly publication providing original in-depth analysis of the most current major and controversial issues of the day with complete summaries, all the pros and cons, two bibliographies and more. Tip: Once in a report, use the "Issue Tracker" on the right side of the page to find related reports.
AcademicSearchPremier	A multi-disciplinary database containing both full-text articles and citations. Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
ExpandedAcademic	Another multidisplinary database that contains many full-text articles. Tip: If your search results include citations or abstracts (not full-text articles), click on the Check availability link within each citation to see if you have access to the journal being cited.
WilsonOmnifileMegaFull-Text	Over 4,000 journals. Coverage back as early as 1982 ensures that every search is as deep as it is broad. Users have access to information on virtually any subject.
JSTOR	Entirely full-text. Cannot email articles-email yourself the stable url. Tip: Do not print from browser print button. Use the JSTOR print option
Newspaper Databases
Lexis-Nexis	Has tons of mainstream and some alternative newspapers, magazines, and voices in full text.
Proquest Newspapers	ncludes the fulltext of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal
Gender Databases
Gender Watch	GenderWatch is a full text database of unique and diverse publications that focus on how gender impacts a broad spectrum of subject areas. Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Contemporary Women's Issues	A multidisciplinary, full-text database that brings together relevant content from mainstream periodicals, "gray" literature, and the alternative press Tip: Click on the icon for the full text
Social Sciences Databases
Social Sciences Full Text	Tip: Use the Check for Full Text link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Social Science Journals	Urban studies Family studies International relations Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Sociological Abstracts	Sociological Abstracts indexes and abstracts the literature in socology Tip: Use the Find a Copy link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Education Databases
Education Journals	Offering complete information on hundreds of educational topics, this database covers almost 400 leading journals in the field.
Eric	Hundreds of education journals