Introduction

This guide is a starting point for research at the Dulaney-Browne Library in the discipline of Composition. If you're looking for a quick start, refer to the instructions below. For more depth, click the blue tabs immediately above.

Quickstart Guide

To find a book, use the SEARCH the Library Catalog tab. Use the dropdown menu to the right of the search box to refine your search. Results from the catalog may include ebooks.

To find journal articles, use the SEARCH EBSCOhost tab above.

To find reference information, try the SEARCH Oxford Reference tab above.

To find an ebook, use the SEARCH Ebrary tab.

You may request books or articles that are unavailable at our library through our Interlibrary Loan service.

Log In Remotely

The library pays for access to many of the sources in this guide. If your computer isn't connected through the OCU network, it will prompt you before granting you access to those resources. To log in, use the same username and password you use to access BlueLink and Desire2Learn. The log in looks like this:

Using Databases

For a quick general search, use the Search EBSCOhost tab above. For a more tailored search, once you are in EBSCO, click on the Choose Databases link to select/deselect specific databases. The categories below provide you with the relevant EBSCO databases and some additional resources to search. Not all databases have been included, so if you are interested in seeing the full list, click here.

To review how to search with Boolean operators, take this brief, interactive tutorial from Colorado State.

Art & Art History: Academic Search Complete + Art & Architecture Complete + Humanities International Complete
Also try these databases: JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "by Discipline" and "Art & Art History" ; Project Muse

Art Education: Academic Search Complete + Art & Architecture Complete + Humanities International Complete + ERIC
Also try these databases: JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "by Discipline" and "Art & Art History" ; Project Muse

Business: Academic Search Complete + Business Source Complete + Regional Business News
Also try this database: JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "by Discipline" and "Business"

Economy: Academic Search Complete + EconLit

Education: Academic Search Complete + ERIC + Professional Development Collection
Also try these resources: Digest of Education Statistics ; JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "Education" ; Project Muse

Environment: Academic Search Complete + Greenfile

General Health Issues: Academic Search Complete + Healthsource: Consumer Edition

Journalism: Academic Search Complete + Communication and Mass Media Complete + Newspaper Source Plus

Kinesiology: Academic Search Complete + SPORTDiscus with Full Text

Literature: Academic Search Complete + MLA International Bibliography
Also try these databases: JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "Language & Literature" ; Project Muse

Medical Industry: Academic Search Complete + Biological Abstracts + CINAHL + Medline

Philosophy: Academic Search Complete + Philosophers Index
Also try these databases: JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "Philosophy" ;  Project Muse

Psychology: Academic Search Complete + PsycINFO
Also try this database:  Project Muse

Religion: Academic Search Complete + ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Also try this database: JSTOR Select the "Browse" tab and click on "by Discipline" and "Religion"

Scholarly vs. Popular Exercise

Forget the differences between scholarly and popular articles? Check out this web page to refresh your memory.

Open each of the articles below and determine whether each one is scholarly or popular. Consider the following questions as you skim them:

Is the article from a peer-reviewed journal, a trade journal, or a magazine?

What can you say about the authority of the author(s)? What are their credentials, if that information is available?

What is the tone of the writing? Who is the target audience for the article?

How is the article cited? How is it organized?

Article #1

Article #2

Article #3

Article #4

Article #5

Article #6

Library Catalog

To find books and ebooks, use the SEARCH the Library Catalog tab above. Use the drop-down menu to select the type of search you would like. If you have trouble finding what you want, try entering your search terms again, then select Subject from the drop down list. This search will give you a list of narrower subjects to choose from. Pay attention to the terms as you may want to use them in other database searches.

To search our Ebrary ebook collection exclusively, use the SEARCH Ebrary tab above.

 

Internet Resources

Purdue Online Writing Lab This site maintained by Purdue University provides helpful writing resources, including MLA Style guides.

KnightCite This online citation generator service is provided by the Hekman Library of Calvin College. Be sure to check your citations against the appropriate manual or the citation examples at the Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Website Evaluation Exercise

Before you rely on a website as a resource, consider the authority, reliability, and timeliness of the information on that website. Read the About Us pages. Find out where the information comes from and get an idea of how much depth the authors are providing by considering the tone, level of detail, and documentation. Finally, keep your eyes open for signs of bias, logical errors, generalizations, and poor presentation.

Let's practice. Peruse the following websites and decide whether you can rely on them for your research.

Dwayne Medical Center

Dihydrogen Monoxide

Shepperton University

Marijuana Site One

Marijuana Site Two

Marijuana Site Three

Finding Statistics

Use these links to find reliable statistics on the internet.

Statistical Abstract of the United States

Population and Household Economic Topics

Demographic Statistics

Economic Statistics

Crime Statistics

Education Statistics

Health Statistics

FedStats