Not finding what you need?
Feeling frustrated?
Having trouble using the library databases?
Then it’s probably time to ask a librarian for some help.
Tim Aman, SCC Librarian
tim.aman@scc.spokane.edu
If you need immediate help, contact a librarian any time using our online chat service.
(Evenings and weekends you may be chatting with a librarian from another college. Ask for an SCC librarian to contact you for follow-up if needed.)
Is this your first time doing research? Just follow these eight steps.
make sure you understand the assignment
clearly state your topic
think about the search words you will use to find information
select the library research databases you will use
search for and select your sources
collect the citations for your sources
take notes from your sources
create your presentation
The purpose of this research guide is to help students in Molly Popchock's ESL class find credible and academic information sources. This guide will suggest useful sources, search techniques and evaluation methods for researching your topic.
SEARCH TIP:
When searching for information think about the search words you will use, such as:
LIBRARY RESEARCH DATABASES
Scholarly Encyclopedias - concise, general background information; articles often written by experts who are university professors
Periodicals - magazines, newspapers, scholarly journals
Articles in periodicals often focus on a narrow aspect of a topic. Here's an example of a search in ProQuest:
Books
Controversial Topics
MLA CITATIONS
Try limiting your Google search to a particular domain (such as .edu or .gov which are restricted domains). You may find more reliable information. Here are a couple of search examples:
"electric motorcycles" "developing countries" site:.edu
"solar panels" "sustainable development" site:.gov
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Online image
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Creator’s Last name, First name. “Title or description of the digital image.” Title of the website, Publication date, URL.
Al-Rubaye, Ahmad. “The photo shows Iraqi schoolgirls in one of the many temporary schools built after the end of the war.” Mufta, 27 May 2013, muftah.org/bombs-backpacks-education-in-iraq/#.WYoQUGffOw8.
YouTube video
McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.
TED Talk
Allende, Isabel. "Tales of Passion." TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, Jan. 2008, www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_tales_of_passion/transcript?language=en.
1. Create a Storyboard to plan the layout of your slides
2. Create a rough draft of your slides in PowerPoint
3. Add images/videos
4. Create transitions and animations to enhance visual interest
