Research Guide, COM 103 Communication Fundamentals

Introduction to Research

Research Helpers

• Tutorials
• Ask a Reference Librarian
• Assignment Calculator 
• APA Citation Resources

Writing Aids

• Writing Center

Finding a Good Topic

Brainstorm ideas and topics that interest you

• Open Mind
• Tips for Finding a Topic

Read a daily newspaper

• Daily Print Newspapers
• Newspaper Websites
• Database: Access World News (NewsBank)

Explore topics using resource tools

• ProQuest topics tab
• Browse Reference Books
• Clusty
• Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) Visual Search
• Dewey Browser: OCLC's prototype, provides a visual interface for the Dewey Decimal System.  Use this tool to find a Dewey number for a topic and then browse our library's shelves or catalog.

Recommended Resources

Journal Locations and Browsing

• Journal Finder: Use this tool to search for journal titles by title or ISSN or browse for hournals by title or subject area.
• Print Journals/Periodicals: Located on the main level of the library at the end of the Reference collection.

Periodical Databases/Indexes

Reports and Pro/Con Essays

• CQ Researcher
• Opposing Viewpoints
• Points of View Reference Center

Newspapers from Alternative Views

• Ethnic Newswatch
• LexisNexis

General Databases (provide scholarly, popular, and trade journal articles)

• Academic Search Premier
• ProQuest
• Additional General/Multidisciplinary Databases

Meta Search

• BearHunt: Use this tool to search multiple databases and CLICnet at one time.

Books

• CLICnet: The shared catalog of Cooperating Libraries in Consortium
• NetLibrary (eBooks)
• Oxford Reference Online
• Series Books  -At Issue Series, Current Controversies, Opposing Viewpoints, Contemporary Issues Companion
• Encyclopedia of Communication and Information

Web Resources

• Google Scholar
• Librarian's Index to the Internet

Searching Tips

• Questions to consider as you analyze your topic
• Answer some questions about a possible topic
• Search Techniques
• Evaluation Criteria
• Other Evaluation Criteria

Citation Information

• Importance of Citations
• Citation and Bibliography Aids