1. Finding resources for your English dissertation Suzie Kitchin & Christine Purcell June 2008

2. Learning Outcomes After this workshop you will be able to: Select the most appropriate resources for your topic Effectively search catalogues and bibliographical databases Search full-text sources

3. Planning your search (1) Research strategy handout Consider scope of research What kind of information are you looking for? Eg. Criticism, original texts, biographical, cultural Keywords and synonyms, eg. Drama, melodrama

4. Effective searching (2) Truncation, eg. Trag* (tragedy, tragic) Wildcards, eg. hon#r (honour, honor) –Useful for British / American differences Subject headings –In Library catalogue, databases

5. Resources (1) Advanced features on library catalogue –Keyword searching –Modifying your search –Marking records –Use of AND, OR, AND NOT Searching advice (see handout) English Subject pages as a launch padEnglish Subject pages

6. Resources (2) Databases (eg)Databases –Literature Online (LION) –Web of Knowledge News archives / cultural context (eg) –Infotrac –Times Digital Archive –Times Literary Supplement (additional passwords)

7. Studying away from Durham Access to online resources Full text sources –E-journals, JSTOR, e-booksJSTOR, –Blackwell Reference online (companions) SCONUL Access scheme Other library catalogues including Copac

8. Internet resources Accuracy? Currency? Authority? Objectivity? Gateways for pre-evaluated resources –Eg. Intute Arts and HumanitiesIntute Arts and Humanities Tutorials, eg. Internet for English Google Scholar (access via library pages)

9. Saving your references Library catalogue & databases –emailing results Databases –save searches & re-run them Endnote –Reference management software

10. Help and support English Subject pages as launch pad Research strategy handout (+ on web pages and in DUO) Online enquiries service http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/using/enquiries/ Academic Support Team –Christine Purcell c.w.purcell@dur.ac.uk 0191 334 2937c.w.purcell@dur.ac.uk –Suzie Kitchin suzie.kitchin@dur.ac.uk 0191 334 2975suzie.kitchin@dur.ac.uk

11. Practical and individual support Time to explore resources for your dissertation Individual chats with Suzie and Christine Any questions – please ask Please complete online evaluation before logging off your PC (link is on English Information Skills page) http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/durham/engldissjune08