1. ENGLISH 3024 Research & Resources
Interim Assistant Dean/Coordinator of Public Services
Megan Lowe

2. Introduction
This presentation will walk you, step-by-step, through the research process. It will use the following thesis as its object:
Students have difficulty understanding
the difference between
scholarly and popular resources. VS

3. Making It Work
Okay, so you have a topic – now you have to make it manageable. You have to break the topic down into smaller concepts to make it easier to research.
You wouldn’t eat a pizza whole, would you? No, you cut it into slices. So: pizza = thesis, slices = keywords.
KEYWORD
THESIS

4. “high school students” problems assessment comprehension
Students have difficulty understanding the difference between scholarly and popular resources.
students
difficulty
understanding
difference(s)
scholarly
popular
resources
“college students”
“high school students”
problems
assessment
comprehension
distinguishing
evaluating/evaluation
peer-reviewed
research
sources
periodicals

5. Making It Work: Keywords
Keywords can be used in
The ULM Library Catalog
The ULM Library Databases
Even on the Internet!
You combine keywords together using certain words called operators. They are:
AND (this is the most common operator) OR
NOT

6. Making It Work: Keywords
So a keyword search for our topic could look like any of these search strings:
students AND evaluating AND scholarly AND popular
students AND difficulty AND scholarly AND popular
“college students” AND research AND difficulty
Order is not important; neither is capitalization. Spelling and number, however, ARE very important. BE CAREFUL!

7. A Few Tips… DO create a list of keywords
DO underline/highlight/bookmark
DO take notes/sticky notes
DO get organized
DON’T multitask
DON’T procrastinate
DON’T plagiarize

8. A BIG TIP
And most importantly, remember: if you need help… JUST ASK A LIBRARIAN FOR HELP! That’s what we’re here for – we want to help YOU! All you have to do is ASK.

9. So we start with the Library’s website
LET’S DO THIS
We know we need scholarly resources on students having difficulty evaluating resources.
We know how to use keywords and search strings.
We have the skills we need to get started.
So we start with the Library’s website

10. What If the Library Doesn’t Have It?
As huge as the Library is, and as large as our collections are, we still don’t have everything
When you discover a resource that you NEED but the Library doesn’t have, there’s a way to get it
The Library has a (free!) service called Interlibrary Loan (ILL for short)
With ILL, we borrow needed materials from partner libraries and lend those materials to you

11. Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
In order to request an item through ILL, you will have to set up an ILL account (which I’ll demonstrate shortly)
Please note: it can take some time to receive requested materials
Articles can be sent via fax or (so, fast)
Books and other materials like that come through the mail; sometimes those requests take 2-4 weeks to fill
(this is why you should never procrastinate w/research!)

12. Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Please note: some libraries charge to lend; the Library does NOT pay those fees
But we will notify you if a lending library has fees, and
Help you make arrangements to pay the fees
The Library will NEVER borrow an item with a fee without discussing it with you first!
NOW LET’S LOOK AT ILL!

13. After the Searching’s Done…
You have the resources you need, either digitally or physically, if you’ve printed them out
This is when underlining/highlighting comes into play, as well as notes and sticky notes
Documentation is also important, in order to avoid plagiarism – several of our databases (like Ebscohost) will generate citations for you

14. Need a Hand?
Remember, if you need help with the research process – at ANY point in the research process – you can ask the librarians for assistance – that’s what we do!
We also check documentation (quotations and citations) for accuracy.
If you’d like someone to check your writing (grammar, spelling, and syntax), you can go to the Write Place on the 3rd floor of Walker Hall.

15. RECAP
When doing research, make sure you have a manageable (narrow) topic.
Create a list of keywords and search strings.
Bear in mind that you need scholarly resources, which can be found in the Library.
Search the Library’s resources using the keywords and search strings, bearing in mind the tips we discussed.
Make sure you document your resources!

16. RECAP
Ebsco Discovery searches all the Library’s content, but you can also search relevant databases only. In that case, select databases based on your research needs – for a class like this, focus on databases in your major, but also don’t forget to think outside the box!
Parameters like “scholarly/peer-reviewed” and “full text” – and even publication date and language – make the results lists more manageable
Some databases will create citations FOR you – take advantage of that for accurate citations!

17. RECAP
Most of the Library’s resources are available OFF- CAMPUS (aka remotely); you will have to login in order to use those resources (CWID/MMYY)
If the Library does NOT have a resource you need, you may still be able to get it through ILL
But ILL is not a same-day service, so be sure to give yourself time, and don’t procrastinate w/research
ILL is free on the Library’s end, but some libraries charge; the Library won’t pay the fees but will notify you and help you make arrangements to pay

18. RECAP The librarians can help you with research, from start to finish!
The librarians can also help you with citations and documentation.
The Write Place can help you with writing – they can check spelling, grammar, and syntax.
Most of these services can be found on the 1st floor of the Library (that’s also where you check out books, study rooms, and make copies). The Write Place is on the 3rd floor of Walker Hall.

19. Question & Answer Time!

20. Thanks for your attention!
Remember, if you need research help, all you have to do is ask the librarians. You can…
Visit the Reference Desk, Library 1st floor
us at
Call us at (318)