REM 100REM 100 Term Paper Term Paper

ResearchResearch

Paul MacDonell: Paul MacDonell: pmac@sfu.caAsk a Librarian: Ask a Librarian:

http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/askus

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

7 Steps of Library Research7 Steps of Library Research

1.1. Identify your research questionIdentify your research question

2.2. Define your information needsDefine your information needs

3.3. Brainstorm terminologyBrainstorm terminology

4.4. Select search tools Select search tools

5.5. Apply power searching techniquesApply power searching techniques

6.6. Evaluate search resultsEvaluate search results

7.7. Track your citationsTrack your citationsThen… write / re-start / write… Then… write / re-start / write…

““Louisiana coastal land loss is dramatically depicted by these various views [of a ] USGS Louisiana coastal land loss is dramatically depicted by these various views [of a ] USGS benchmark set in concrete in 1932 on dry land near the Elliot home on Bayou Couba, which benchmark set in concrete in 1932 on dry land near the Elliot home on Bayou Couba, which is approximately 13 miles southwest of New Orleans…The benchmark now sits in is approximately 13 miles southwest of New Orleans…The benchmark now sits in approximately 2 feet of water, about 15 feet from the shoreline of Couba Island.”approximately 2 feet of water, about 15 feet from the shoreline of Couba Island.”

Historical and projected coastal Louisiana land changes: 1978-2050: USGS Open File Report 03-334, Historical and projected coastal Louisiana land changes: 1978-2050: USGS Open File Report 03-334, (Revised January 2004).(Revised January 2004).

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

Katrina and Wetland Katrina and Wetland ProtectionProtection

““Louisiana’s unique wetlands provide our state with a buffer zone Louisiana’s unique wetlands provide our state with a buffer zone from natural disasters such as hurricanes. But our wetlands from natural disasters such as hurricanes. But our wetlands have been eroding…the federal government must join with have been eroding…the federal government must join with the people of Louisiana to preserve America’s wetlands.” the people of Louisiana to preserve America’s wetlands.”

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, quoted on the Times-Picayune Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, quoted on the Times-Picayune Newspaper blog 8/29/2005 and retrieved from Newspaper blog 8/29/2005 and retrieved from

http://www.historycommons.org

Decades of wetland loss has brought the Gulf Coast many kilometers Decades of wetland loss has brought the Gulf Coast many kilometers closer to the below sea level city of New Orleans: closer to the below sea level city of New Orleans: http://www.lca.gov/images/landloss11x17.pdf http://www.lca.gov/images/landloss8x11.pdf

Wikipedia Page on the Wikipedia Page on the Wetlands of Louisiana

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

Identify Your Research QuestionIdentify Your Research Question

Environmental problems caused by Environmental problems caused by human institutions, attitudes, human institutions, attitudes, behaviorsbehaviors

Analyze issue from a social Analyze issue from a social sciences / social theory perspectivesciences / social theory perspective

SOCIAL THEORY EXERCISE SOCIAL THEORY EXERCISE

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

Define Your Information NeedsDefine Your Information Needs

Analyze the parameters of your topic:Analyze the parameters of your topic: WHAT (main topic, what about that topic)WHAT (main topic, what about that topic) WHY (significance)WHY (significance) WHEN (currency)WHEN (currency) WHERE (geographic)WHERE (geographic) HOW (perspectives, type of information)HOW (perspectives, type of information) WHO (significant people, organizations)WHO (significant people, organizations)

Develop an outline – refine as you Develop an outline – refine as you researchresearch

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

Brainstorm TerminologyBrainstorm Terminology

KeywordsKeywords Synonyms / broader / narrower / Synonyms / broader / narrower /

relatedrelated Names of people, organizations as Names of people, organizations as

search termssearch terms

TERMINOLOGY EXERCISETERMINOLOGY EXERCISE

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Power Searching Power Searching TechniquesTechniques

““Phrase searching”Phrase searching” Truncat*Truncat* Logical operators: Logical operators:

AND, OR, NOTAND, OR, NOT Keywords => subject headingsKeywords => subject headingsTRY IT!

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Scholarly Journal ArticlesScholarly Journal Articles

How do you recognize a How do you recognize a scholarly or research journal scholarly or research journal article?article?

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Potential sources? You judge!Potential sources? You judge!

Perin, Monica. (2003, July 11). Perin, Monica. (2003, July 11). Houston oil giant backs research project on Louisiana wetlands. . Houston Business JournalHouston Business Journal. Retrieved February 23, 2010 from . Retrieved February 23, 2010 from http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2003/07/14/story7.htmlhttp://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2003/07/14/story7.html

Junk, Wolfgang J. (2002). Long-term environmental trends and the Junk, Wolfgang J. (2002). Long-term environmental trends and the future of tropical wetlands. future of tropical wetlands. Environmental ConservationEnvironmental Conservation, 29(4), 414-, 29(4), 414-435.435.

Frank, Christine. Hurricane Katrina: a disaster in the making for Frank, Christine. Hurricane Katrina: a disaster in the making for decades. decades. Socialist ActionSocialist Action. Retrieved February 23, 2010 from . Retrieved February 23, 2010 from http://www.socialistaction.org/frank3.htmhttp://www.socialistaction.org/frank3.htm

REM 100 – Winter 2010REM 100 – Winter 2010

Last StepsLast Steps

Organize your information and Organize your information and write your paperwrite your paper Help? Student Learning CommonsHelp? Student Learning Commons

Cite your sources, e.g. APACite your sources, e.g. APA Additional questions? AskUsAdditional questions? AskUs

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Final StepFinal Step

How do you know when you’ve done How do you know when you’ve done enough research?enough research?

Ask a Librarian: Ask a Librarian: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/askushttp://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/askus

A stand of cypress trees near Indian Bayou in the A stand of cypress trees near Indian Bayou in the Atchafalaya Basin in LouisianaAtchafalaya Basin in Louisiana

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Good luck with your research!