Legal Administration:CommunicationsDoing Library Research at Durham College
Library Homepagewww.durhamcollege.ca/library
The Research Process
Step One: Identify and Articulate
Step Two: Find Information
Step Three: Analyze and Evaluate
Step Four: Present
Legalization of marijuana
Canadian cases
precedents
trends
Other courntrieshistory
commentary
laws
Brainstorm!What do you know?
What do you need to know?
Hint:Use a CREDIBLE SOURCE to get an OVERVIEW of your topic.
CREDIBLE SOURCES:
Reference book
Subject Encyclopedia
Introductory textbook
Professional association or government website
Wikipedia?
Encyclopedia of CriminologyEntry: Marijuana
“Even though support for the legalization of marijuana is at its highest level in 30 years, recent initiatives by several states to legalize small quantities, reduce penalties for possession, or provide treatment instead of jail time have all failed” (p. 952)
Legalization of marijuana
Canadian cases
precedents
Legalize smallquantities
Treatment vs. jail time
Reduce penalties for possession
trends
Other courntrieshistory
commentary
laws
Legalization of marijuana
Canadian cases
precedents
Legalize smallquantities
Treatment vs. jail time
Reduce penalties for possession
trends
Other courntrieshistory
commentary
laws
Plan where to get resources…
Legal databas
e
Legal articles
bookLegal databas
e
Magazine articles
Thesis Statement/Research Question
Have a “So What?” statement BEFORE you begin your in-depth research
Recent trends to legalize possession of marijuana have failed due to ongoing health concerns related to marijuana use.
At the end of Step OneMind-map
◦What you need◦Where you will get it
Draft thesis statement◦Key search concepts
Step Two: Gather information
Ready? Set?
GO!!!
You need…one statute one caseone article from a newspaperone article from a magazinetwo articles from a Web site (that
is credible)one book
Go ahead…Google it!
Can you find???• one statute • one case• one article from a
newspaper• one article from a
magazine• two articles from a Web
site (that is credible)• one book
You need…one statute one caseone article from a newspaperone article from a magazinetwo articles from a website (that is credible)
one book
Library Catalogue50-100 words to describe each
book◦How many pages does a book typically
have?Search fields:
Title Author Publisher Subject terms
We are NOT searching: Chapter titles Summaries Contents
Library Databases do not use the same language as Google!Need to use
Boolean Searching…
Translating a Google SearchGoogle: legalization of marijuana in
canadaLibrary: legalization AND marijuana
AND canadaBetter Library Search:
Marijuana or potAND legalization or decriminaliz*AND canad*
Boolean Searching: A SummaryUse AND to connect unique
concepts◦legalization AND marijuana
Use OR to connect synonyms◦legalization OR decriminalization
Use * to include all endings on a root word◦Canad*
Use “ “ for phrases◦“small quantities”
Boolean Searching: A Game!Practice your Boolean Searching
by playing “Snakes and Ladders”…
http://faculty.uoit.ca/pratt/Doyle/Boolean%20Snakes%20and%20Ladders/index.htm
You need…one statute one caseone article from a newspaperone article from a magazinetwo articles from a website (that is credible)
one boo k
Finding Articles
Use a periodical index or database?
Tool used to find articles in journals or newspapers
Usually an online data base that we search using keywords.
Tells us what's been published where.When we search an index, we get
citations. These citations describe an article and tell us where it was published.
Using the Library Website to Search for Articles
Search:legalization and marijuana and
canada
The Library Login Page
This database is mostly AMERICAN.
We have databases with more Canadian articles…
News and Current
Affairs Subject Guide
You need…one statute one caseone article from a newspaperone article from a magazinetwo articles from a website (that is credible)
one boo k
Finding Cases and Statutes: Hints
• Find your books, articles and websites FIRST!
• They often will name statutes, cases, etc. and then you can go look for those specifically.
• Much easier than keyword searching cases and laws.
Step Two: Wrap-UpUse the right access tool to find
the type of material you need◦Books = catalogue◦Articles = index◦Cases, Statutes = legal database
Remember to TRANSLATE your Google search
Step Three: Analyzing and Evaluating
Who is the author? What are his or her credentials?
Is it the correct jurisdiction?When was it published? Is there a possible bias/agenda?Does it support what you need?What type of resource is it
(newspaper, magazine, journal?)
Step Four: Presenting and Citing Sources
• Use McGill Legal Citation style to put together a list of legal references.
Sample Bibliography
To help you..
• Kathleen Stewart’s guide to legal citation style
• The official book, which is actually called the “Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation.” In the reference section at KE 259 .C 3 5 2006
Because plagiarism is big trouble
Durham Policies and Procedures – Penalities for academic honesty matters
First OffenceMinimum – mark of ‘0’ in test, assignments and/or loss of one alpha
grade in course.Maximum – withdrawal from course.
Second OffenceNormally results in dismissal from the college for balance of academic
year.
Third OffenceNormally results in dismissal from college with no possibility of
readmission for three years.
More Help…
Reference Desk x2390Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8am-9pmFriday 8am-4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm
Nicole Doyle [email protected]