WRITING 205 - GENETICS AND POP CULTURE
Guide to Databases and Searching
http://library.syr.edu/instruction/class/wrt205_genetics_pop_culture.html
COURSE INSTRUCTOR Tom Townsley
February 6, 2007 |
LIBRARIAN Reference Librarian, Information Studies (315) 443-4807 LIBRARY CONTACTS |
Outcomes of this session --
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Learn about and practice database searching
- Interpret citation information and access articles in full-text and print
Additional information:
- Evaluate sources of information, find sources for understanding the science, and indentify different types of information resources
Once you come up with your research question or statement:
Devote a little time to identifying the key concepts, and think of some terms that you can try when you begin searching.
Think of alternative terms, including synonyms, and possibly antonyms. For example, if you are researching the concept of equality, discrimination might also be a useful search term.
Also consider whether your topic has a geographic or temporal focus so that you can include those elements in your searches to refine your results to the most relevant items.
More guidance on defining your topic and identifying search terms.
Suggested Search Terms for Genetics & Pop Culture
Selecting Databases
From the Library home page, click Find Articles to access the Databases Main Menu.
There are a couple of ways to find a database --
By Name -- type the database name in the search box in the left frame of the Databases Main Menu, or navigate to it using the alphabet box.
By Subject -- Use the Databases Main Menu
By Content type -- use the link in the upper left frame of the Databases Main Menu
Multidisciplinary, mega-databases are listed under Research Starting Points. These databases index a huge amount of resources across many disciplines.
Expanded Academic ASAP
Full-text articles and images from scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers. Covers arts and humanities, social sciences, science, and technology.
Proquest Research Library
Abstracts, indexing, and full text articles from popular, business, and academic publications, and current coverage of articles from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Covers the arts, business, children, education, health, humanities, international, law, military, multicultural, psychology, sciences, social sciences and women's interests.
Masterfile Select
Full-text from over 750 general reference, business, consumer health, general science, humanities, and multi-cultural periodicals. In addition to the full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for 2,290 periodicals.
Full text, indexed and abstracted records from Education Full Text, General Science Full Text, Humanities Full Text, Readers' Guide Full Text, and Wilson Full Text. Includes US and international professional, academic, and trade publications.
Subject-Specific Databases
Useful resources for your topics will be found in many different subject databases depending on the specific topic you have chosen, but some of the likely ones are under these categories:
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Newspapers & Media
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Film
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Communication Studies
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Social Science
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Education
- LGBT Studies
Newspapers & Media
Newspapers & Media -- Links to about 25 databases for searching news and media sources.
Current News/Newspapers -- Links to news & wire services, news magazines, Syracuse, NY state, national, state, and international news.
Film
Film & Television Literature Index
Index to articles including reviews, scholarly and critical analysis of cinema and television, and articles of popular interest. Coverage includes film & television theory, preservation & restoration, writing, production, cinematography, technical aspects, and reviews. Some full text is available.
International Index to the Performing Arts
Full-text of scholarly and popular performing arts periodicals, biographical profiles, conference papers, obituaries, interviews, discographies, reviews and events. Covers dance, film, television, drama, theater, stagecraft, musical theater, broadcast arts, circus performance, comedy, storytelling, opera, pantomime, puppetry, magic and more.
Communication Studies
Communication & Mass Media Index
Index to the literature related to communication and mass media.
Full-text of 19 journals in such subjects as Journalism, Public Opinion, Political Communication, Mass Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Cultural Studies / Intercultural Communication, Television / Film Studies, Media Studies, Business Communication, Organizational / Management Communication, Written Communication, Rhetoric, and Literacy Studies.
World Advertising Research Center. Articles, case studies, research reports and summaries covering all areas of marketing communications drawn from more than 30 leading content sources worldwide
Social Science
Sociological Abstracts
Abstracts of journal articles, citations to book reviews, abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers in sociology, social work, aging, gerontology, child & family studies, marriage & family therapy, other social sciences.
Social Sciences Abstracts
Index with abstracts in sociology, social work, aging, gerontology, child and family studies, marriage and family therapy and other social sciences.
Education
ERIC
Index and abstracts of educational materials, both published and unpublished sources.
Education Abstracts
Index and full text of English-language education journals and yearbooks.
LGBT Studies
GLBT Life
Citations, abstracts, and some full text on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.
GenderWatch
Full-text publications that focus on the impact of gender across a broad spectrum of disciplines.
More LGBT Studies databases
A literature review is an analysis of sources from previous research on a particular topic. The literature review can be a publication in itself, or part of a larger research project, dissertation/ thesis, or a paper. Here are some guides to conducting a literature reivew:
Literature Review - Univ. of North Carolina
The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It - University of Toronto
Literature Review - American University Library
