(310) 243-3715

CSUDH Library and Information Resources for

ENG 110: Freshman Composition

Prepared by:Caroline Bordinaro, Librarian
cbordinaro@csudh.edu
310-243-2084

Go to: Search Tips | Finding Books | Finding Magazines, Newspapers and Journals | Finding Websites | Library Guides

Concepts and questions for beginning research:

• Where to Start?
  • What's your research question?
  • What information do you need to find?
• Who cares about the same information? (e.g.: researchers, historians, government, etc.)
  • What kind of information do they need?
  • Where would they get it?
• What resource are you currently using? Why is it important to know?
  • Is there a better tool for the job?
  • Are you using it in the most efficient/effective way?
• Types of information available
  • Books
  • Articles from journals, magazines and newspapers
  • Websites
  • Newsletters
  • Reports

Advice for searching subscription databases:

• Definitions
  • DATABASE: An organized collection of information, especially electronic information.
  • ONLINE JOURNAL INDEX: A database that contains magazine, newspaper and journal articles e.g: Academic Search Premier
  • JOURNAL (also SCHOLARLY JOURNAL): Scholarly publication, articles usually reviewed by experts in the field before publication; published for an academic audience; narrow focus; deeply researched e.g.; American Journal of Psychology
  • MAGAZINE: Publication of general interest: popular interest and broad subjects (e.g: Psychology Today)
  • ABSTRACT: a brief summary of the main content of an article
  • FULL TEXT: the complete article. Click on the   button to see if the Full Text is available.
  • CITATION: the basic information you need to find the full text of an article. Includes
• Search Concepts
  • Boolean operators
    • 1. AND: Adidas AND marketing
      2. OR: Adidas OR Nike
      3. NOT: Adidas NOT shoes
  • Phrase searching"" ( "Nike Sportswear of America")
  • Advanced Search: Use this frequently to determine your search options. This will save you TIME and FRUSTRATION!
  • USE THE HELP SCREENS
• Rules and advice
  • Find index descriptors attached to useful article citations- redo your search with these "Official Database Topic Terms"
  • Always use the E-Mail, Print and Save functions embedded within the database window. It is usually not a good idea to use the File-Print or File-Save As functions in the upper left hand corner of the browser.
  • All databases function essentially the same way and have similar features.

BONUS!! Try our new SEARCH TUTORIAL and tell us how you liked it! Send comments to Jeff Broude, librarian at jbroude@csudh.edu.

Finding Books in the library

Go to TOROFIND: the CSUDH Library Catalog and search on the title, author, subject or keyword. Look not only for that specific call number, but also check out the books in that section.

• If you don't see the right item listed, or want more titles, try an on a few keywords (in separate boxes).
• If you still don't find the right book, ask a reference librarian.
  

Go to: Research Concepts | Finding Websites | Library Guides

Magazine, journal and newspaper articles online

Online indexes must be accessed through these links. For further exploration, go to the CSUDH library homepage (library.csudh.edu), and select Find Journal Articles & Electronic Resources. You may either browse by subject area or go to your favorite resource using the Alphabetical List.

NOTE: These are subscription databases, selected and provided specifically for CSUDH students. To access from home, please see our Remote Patron Access Instructions guide for login instructions.

Recommended indexes:

• Academic Search Premier: Our most popular general index. Many full-text articles. Easy search and retrieval.
• ProQuest Databases: Excellent multi-subject index, with many full-text articles. Very easy to search.
• WilsonWeb: OmniFile Full-Text Mega: Another multi-subject index. Lots of full-text.
• Lexis-Nexis: 100% full-text newspapers, magazines and journal articles on a wide range of topics. Also try their Online Almanac (under Reference)
• Britannica Online (use this link) : the online version of Encyclopedia Britannica. Search on your country.
• CQ Researcher: complete reports on controversial topics and federal legislation
• JSTOR: 100% peer-reviewed journal articles on a wide range of Humanities subjects.
• Project Muse: All-scholarly journal index containing Humanities and Social Sciences topics

Not sure how to search? Use our How To Find Articles help page for assistance.

Finding quality websites

These are indexes to quality web sites that have been reviewed by librarians. The sites have been checked for accuracy, timiliness, stabilty, and will generally conform to the standards of academic research. However, please be judicious in the use of websites in general, because anybody can put anything on the web.

• Infomine (infomine.ucr.edu): A project from the Univeristy of California and other universities, it is a searchable index of websites specifically appropriate for university research. Click on SocSci & Humanities to search their specialized index.
• Librarian's Index to the Internet (www.lii.org): Index of websites reviewed by librarians, geared toward the general public. Choose a topic from the index or use Advanced Search to search for keywords.
• CSUDH Humanities Internet Guide (library.csudh.edu/cyberlib/human.htm): Resource guide for humanities sites on the Internet compiled by CSUDH librarians.
• Evaluating Information on the Web: This is a very good checklist from the Pasadena City College Library for judging the quality of not only information on the Internet, but any information you may want to use for an assignment.
  
  

  For more detailed help, download our LIBRARY GUIDES (.doc format) :

• Finding journal articles using Academic Search Premiere (advanced search/retrieval methods, Interlibrary Loan)
• Accessing databases from off campus
• What is a Literature Review?
• Searching Google (advanced Internet search methods)
• OR click here to download ALL FOUR GUIDES with BONUS MATERIAL! (10pgs.)

 

Go to: Research Concepts | Finding Books | Finding Magazines, Newspapers and Journals | Finding Websites