Need to do research? This is where you need to be!
We have a special research guide through the library. Click Here: Link
Where to start?
You have several options to start with:
- Wikipedia: Wikipedia has come a long way, and is now reviewed on a regular basis to prevent misinformation. This is a great place to start your research. Get a better idea of what to look for by reading a summary of your issue or topic. Click on the reference links at the bottom which now provide scholarly articles to back up the information. I don't recommend citing from Wikipedia, but it is a great source to start your research.
- Google: Another great way to start your research is to Google a topic, question, or key terms. Google has advanced algorithms that allow for easy searching. However, do understand the sources that pop up might not be very reliable. This is a good way to gather information quickly and establish some key points of inquiry.
- Talk to a librarian: If you are ever stuck on research or need someone to help guide you, a librarian is there to help you. They can often find things quicker than anyone else in the university because their training shows them all the ins and outs of researching databases and finding information in texts. They aren't there just to check out books!
- Talk to an instructor or peer: Sometimes we just need to bounce ideas off of one another. Talking through research topics and ideas is the best way to brainstorm. The person doesn't even need to say anything, sometimes you just need to think it through out loud.
Once you have key terms, it is time to search databases!
First, you can do a general search in the OneSearch box at the top of the Clemson Library Page: libraries.clemson.edu. This will bring up many search options, but it can help guide you toward some great resources. If you want to specify books, journals, media, etc., you can click on the appropriate tab after the search.
If you already know the database by name that you want to use, then go to Clemson's Library page and click on the database name here!
However, most don't know where to start or what databases are available to them. If you go to http://libraries.clemson.edu/research/ you will find RESEARCH GUIDES which are very helpful for all researches. These are curated lists of databases based on subject material/major. On the right of the screen, we can see something called "COURSE GUIDES" which allows you to go to specific guides for a course if one is set up by the instructor and librarian. Here, you can click on the ENGL 1030 guide for further assistance!
If you already know the database by name that you want to use, then go to Clemson's Library page and click on the database name here!
However, most don't know where to start or what databases are available to them. If you go to http://libraries.clemson.edu/research/ you will find RESEARCH GUIDES which are very helpful for all researches. These are curated lists of databases based on subject material/major. On the right of the screen, we can see something called "COURSE GUIDES" which allows you to go to specific guides for a course if one is set up by the instructor and librarian. Here, you can click on the ENGL 1030 guide for further assistance!
The ENGL 1030 Research Guide
The ENGL 1030 Research Guide is helpful to all students enrolled in the course because it has been curated and tailored with the ENGL1030 student in mind. Each Raid (project) has a tab with resources and tips unique to each. We also have our own librarian! Kirsten Dean is a great resource for any research questions. She is willing to set up appointments, correspond through email, or talk on the phone. If you don't want to speak with her personally, you can at least take advantage of the Research Guide!
Suggested Databases and Resources
The library and web can be daunting when it comes to starting your research. Here are some databases and resources that might be helpful that have not already been covered:
- Google Scholar: I HIGHLY recommend clicking into Google Scholar from the library's site under "A-Z Databases" so you have full access to all books and documents the university pays for. This is a great site that uses Google's algorithms to assist in your searching of any and all topics. It is still recommended that you search using search terms instead of full questions or statements.
- Opposing Viewpoints: This site pulls information from popular news sites, video hosting, and scholarly sources on popular research topics. You have to be careful with what you use and evaluate it thoroughly through a rhetorical analysis. This is a great way to assist in your research when you cannot seem to find what you are looking for.
- ILLIAD: Is there a book or article that the university does not have access to but it is so damn perfect for your research that you cannot live without it? Clemson is part of a service that borrows or scans books from other libraries so you can access the information. I have used this resource many times and it has been a great help, especially when it comes to deciding whether to buy a book or not. This service can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, depending on if it is a scan or shipping a book.
- Academic Search Complete: This database will search ALL databases that are linked to it and give you every type of source imaginable. You can also customize your search by what type of source you are looking for. This is a very powerful search engine, but it may be overwhelming with how many sources it provides.
- Oxford English Dictionary: This dictionary, commonly referred to as the OED, is not free to the public and it is a great resource if you are trying to define a term. Not only will it give you several different definitions, but it will also give you its etymology. This is a very valuable academic research tool.
Extra Resources
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