English 102 Research Guide

This guide is the starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating  materials relating to a variety of topics in the Carmichael Library and on Internet.  If you need additional assistance, please Ask a Librarian or contact Alan May, Electronic Resources and Reference Librarian, at maya@montevallo.edu or 665-6111.

Finding Library Materials     

The Library Catalog is often the best place to begin research. Search by author, title, subject, keyword, or a variety of other specialized searches.

Select a topic of interest to you and search for information from a variety of sources such as books, journal articles, newspaper articles, videocassettes, audiotapes, etc.

Several examples of standard subject headings appropriate for use in the Library Catalog when searching for materials are:

• College students

• Universities and colleges

• Recycling (Waste, etc.) and Conservation of natural resources

• Medical care

Use standard subject headings in <Subject Keyword> or <Subject Alphabetical> searches to identify materials in the Carmichael Library by subject.

To obtain an authoritative list of subject headings check the Library of Congress Subject Headings, near the Ask Here desk.

Call Numbers
Carmichael Library uses the Library of Congress system to organize its materials which can be found in these call number ranges:

Reference Materials
Reference materials include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and indexes.  They are good starting points in the research process. 

Print reference materials are available on the Main Level of the Library in the Reference Department. 

Be sure to check the Reference databases for electronic reference materials. A good starting point is the Encyclopedia Britannica Online.      

Journals and Periodicals
Journals and periodicals are published at regular intervals in print and electronically.

Search by <Journal Title Alphabetical> in the Library Catalog to locate a journal title in print or electronically. 

Search by <Subject -- Periodicals> using standard subject headings to identify periodicals in a specific subject.  For example:

• College teaching -- Periodicals

• Pollution -- Periodicals

• Nutrition -- Periodicals

• Technology -- Periodicals

Electronic Resources
Databases

Electronic access to journal articles is available from the Databases  page.  Most databases can be searched using author, title or subject in either basic or advanced search formats. The results of a search will include either a citation, a citation and abstract, or a citation, abstract and full text of the article depending on the database searched.

Listed below are multi-disciplinary databases available from the Databases page.  You can access these, and other databases, from the Databases by name page or the Databases by subject page.

• Academic Search Premier  Full Text 
  Includes articles from scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities, general science and education.

• CQ Researcher Full Text 
  CQ Researcher is noted for its in-depth, unbiased coverage of health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Each single-themed, 12,000-word report is researched and written by a seasoned journalist. The consistent, reader-friendly organization provides researchers with an introductory overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources. Print issues of the CQ Researcher are located in the Reference Collection under the call no. H35 .C672.

• Expanded Academic ASAP   Full Text 
  Multi-disciplinary approach to full text articles in scholarly journals

• LION   Full Text 
  Fully searchable library of more than 350,000 works of English and American poetry, drama and prose, 147 full-text literature journals, and other key criticism and reference resources.  Search for authors, text, and criticisms and reference sources.  Browse complete contents, full-text journals, authors index, and poets on screen.

• Opposing Viewpoints Full Text 
  Search by topic and see pros and cons of differing issues and arguments. Opposing Viewpoints lets you search by topic and by keyword for articles in academic journals, newspapers, reference works, and other resources. Also, the print version of the Green Haven Press series on opposing viewpoints can be found by doing a title keyword search on "opposing viewpoints." 

• ProQuest Newspapers Full Text 
  Covers national and international news in the Atlanta Journal, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.

Additional databases are available by title and subject here.

Print Indexes
Indexes are used to identify published articles in specific journals or newspapers.  Most of the indexes in the Carmichael Library are electronic and are available from the Databases page.  However, in some instances only print indexes are available.  Listed below are indexes that are available in print only or in print and electronic format::

Government Resources
The U.S. Government publishes a large amount of data and resources both electronically and in print.  Identify government resources in the database GPO which covers all types of U.S. government documents, including Congressional reports, hearings, debates, and records; judiciary materials; and documents issued by executive departments (Defense, State, Labor, Office of the President, etc.).  In <Advanced Search> select <Login for more resources> to search the Library Catalog and the WorldCat  Database to determine which libraries own the item.