WSU Stewart Library -

Stewart Library - Weber State University

English 2010 Exercise

Student's Name

Information Literacy

Learning Objectives

You will be able to identify, find, use, and evaluate library and Internet information resources for academic research and lifelong learning using these key resources:

Article Databases

Library Catalog

Google

Before you start

Work with other students and help each other out as needed.
Carefully read and follow the instructions on this exercise. The instructions describe how to access library resources needed to complete the exercise.
Write your answers on these sheets and give them to your English 2010 instructor when due, usually one week from the date of the library session.

Research Tips

Plan ahead and save time with these helpful tips

1. Use the right tool for the right job and use a variety of tools

Use article databases to find articles
Use the Stewart Library Catalog to find books
Use search engines to find web sites
Read All The Screens (RATS)

2. Use Boolean logic to refine your search

Use AND to narrow your search. Search results will include ALL your search terms. Example: students AND college
Use OR to broaden your search. Search results will include ANY of your search terms. Example: college OR university OR higher education

3. Use advanced search techniques for better results

In addition to keyword searching, library catalogs, article databases, and search engines offer a variety of ways to make your search results more relevant. Options may include

truncation (an asterisk may be used at the end of a word to find words with the same root word)
wild cards (a question mark or other symbol may be used to replace one or more letters in a word)
searching by subject headings (using controlled vocabulary)

To learn more, read help screens, look at Stewart Library's guide on Research Tips, or ask librarians for assistance.

4. Ask librarians for assistance

Visit the Stewart Library reference desk
or the WSU Davis Campus Library in the Information Commons
Call us at (801) 626-6415 (Stewart Library) or (801) 395-3472 (Davis Campus Library) or toll free 1-877-306-3140
Chat online with librarians for immediate assistance (from the library home page)
Email our Ask a Librarian service
(http://library.weber.edu/ref/askalibrarian/default.cfm)

GETTING STARTED

Select a topic

Think about something you would like to know more about...
• A research project you will do for this class or for another class
• A topic you are interested in learning more about

1. Write your research topic here

__________________________________________________________________________
This topic idea will evolve into a more formal thesis or focused research question as you
continue your research. Example: What are the effects of television violence on children?

2. Select two or three words that best describe your topic and write them here

__________________________________________________________________________
These are the keywords you will use in your search. For the example above, your keywords
could be violence, children, television

Next