LIBRARY WORKSHOP

Research Skills in English Language & Literature

ENG 2240 - Part I and Part IIJanuary 2008

Overview

• Main Types of Library Resources

• Main Types of Library Search Tools

• Search Strategy (applied to Catalog)

• Language and Literature Databases

Types of Resources

Books/eBooks

Books can be in PRINT or ELECTRONIC format (70,000+ eBooks in our collection)

Generally, books are … general, providing an indepth overview of a fairly general topic

REFERENCE books are a special category of books that we REFER to briefly – we don’t often read the whole book e.g. dictionaries or encyclopedias

Journals/eJournalsCompare a Journal to a Magazine:

-both come out weekly, monthly or quarterly (so very current compared to books)

- both have short articles within, which are quite focused and specific (compared to books)

- BUT one is considered to be more SCHOLARLY, while the other is more POPULAR - think of differences in authorship, audience, tone, content level, etc.

- original work, or original research

e.g. a novel or a poeman article documenting a research study

Primary/Secondary Literature

- summary or analysis of primary literature

e.g. a book or article ABOUT a novelan article criticizing an original studya book summarizing previous studies

Primary Literature

Secondary Literature

What type, What tool?

Book reviews of this year’s winner of the Booker Prize for Literature

An overview of the pros and cons of using computers in language learning

My latest novel

Studies that determine whether or not reading novels improves language skills more than reading newspapers

Library Catalog

• Author

– Last name + First name + Other names (optional)

• Title

– The whole title / First several words of the title

J.K. Rowling Rowling, J.K.

Word grammar : new perspectives on a theory of language structure

Word grammar : new perspective on a theory of language structure Word grammar : new perspective on a theory of language structure

Word grammarWord grammar

Exercise:

Search the Library Catalog for information on

the use of technology for language learning.

Search Strategy

1.1. Define your search topicDefine your search topic

Be specific; try to write it in the form of a question. How does the use of technology assist in language learning?

2.2. Identify the main conceptsIdentify the main concepts

Ignore “soft” words or connectors e.g. effect, improve, impacttechnology language learning

3.3. Create a list of possible search termsCreate a list of possible search terms

technologytechnology language learninglanguage learning

technologicaltechnological language acquisitionlanguage acquisition

technolog*technolog*

comput*comput*

Search Strategy (cont.)

* For variant endings

communicat*

symbol*

? For one character

wom?n

colo?r

Search Strategy (cont.)4.4. Combine your search terms appropriatelyCombine your search terms appropriately

technolog* OR comput* OR software

language learning AND NOT english

technolog* AND language learning

A B A BA B

AND OR AND NOT

language learning and (technolog* or comput*)

Use (brackets or parentheses) to order your Use (brackets or parentheses) to order your search!search!

Search Exercises

Catalogue/Databases

DATABASES FOR:•Journal/Magazine Articles•Newspaper Articles•Theses, ConferencePapers, etc.

CATALOGUE FOR:•Books, eBooks•Journals/Magazine Titles•Newspaper Titles•Multimedia

Databases

明報(Ming Pao)

Hong Kong Standard

蘋果日報 (Apple Daily)

South China Morning Post

WiseNews contains the fulltext of 250+ China-based newspapers from 1998 onwards!

Concept: To search for information, usually JOURNAL ARTICLES or NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, from various publications at the same time!

e.g. WiseNews (電子剪報 ) )

Database Benefits:

• One stop, focused search• Format or Subject Based• Many years included

Many have fulltext or links tofulltext in HKBU Library

If you know the title of a useful database

If you know the title of a useful database

If you don’t know the title of a useful database

If you don’t know the title of a useful database

Language Databases

LLBA (Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts)– Focuses on all aspects of the study of language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, etc.

– 1500+ journal titles; some book/chapters; 1973-

– abstracts, some fulltext, links to HKBU fulltext subscriptions via WebBridge

– CSA platform (featured on homepage); use Advanced Search

MLA International Bibliography (Modern Language Association)– modern languages and literatures, linguistics and folklore

– 4400+ journal titles and 1000+ book publishers; 1926-

– index only (brief citations with subject headings), very few abstracts, no full text

– CSA platform (featured on homepage); use Advanced Search

Linguistics Abstracts Online

– Focuses on linguistics theory – not applied linguistics or language families

– 400+ journal titles; 1985-

– use Advance Search; can limit by subdisciplines

Literature Databases

MLA International Bibliography (Modern Language Association)– modern languages and literatures, linguistics and folklore

– 4400+ journal titles and 1000+ book publishers; 1926-

– index only (brief citations with subject headings), very few abstracts, no full text

– CSA platform (featured on homepage); use Advanced Search

British Humanities Index

– focus on topics such as literature, language, philosophy, etc.

– 320+ journal & magazine titles; 1962-

– CSA platform (featured on homepage); use Advanced Search

Project Muse

– 200+ journals – almost 100 in literature

– Fulltext of articles; coverage dates vary (generally more recent years only)

– Use Advanced Search

Related Databases

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center)

– Extensive coverage of education related information; 1966-

Communication and Mass Media Compete

– Covers core journals in the field of communications; dates vary

China Journal Net

– Multidisciplinary coverage of journals published in China; 1994-

One together …

One or two on your own …

Database Practice

Questions, Evaluation & My Library Account

Wrap-Up – Part I

Sneak Peek - Part II

• Lang & Lit Reference Sources

• Accessing Fulltext Articles

• Putting it all together ….

Overview

• Review of Part I

• Lang & Lit Reference Sources

• Accessing Fulltext Articles

• Pulling it all Together

Reference ResourcesWhat - dictionaries, encyclopedias

- handbooks, companions- bibliographies, compiled criticism series

Why - topic exploration- background information; general introduction- recommended reading for further books/articles

How (to find) - browse print reference shelves and eReference webpage on library website- search using Reference limit in the Library Catalog- search using: <topic> and (dictionar* or encyclopedia* or handbook*)

1.1. Define your search topicDefine your search topic

Be specific; try to write it in the form of a question. How does the use of technology assist in language learning?

2.2. Identify the main conceptsIdentify the main concepts

Ignore “soft” words or connectors e.g. effect, improve, impacttechnology language learning

3.3. Create a list of possible search termsCreate a list of possible search terms

technolog*technolog* language learninglanguage learning

comput*comput* language acquisitionlanguage acquisition

4.4. Combine terms appropriatelyCombine terms appropriatelylanguage learning and (technolog* or comput*)

(language learning or language acquisition) and (technolog* or comput*)

Search Strategy Recap

Getting to the Full Text

WebBridge ….

If “Article Full Text” does not display …

…bridge to Catalog

Make use reference books for background information and recommended reading

Search the Catalogue to find books on your topic (don’t be too narrow in your search strategy – books are general)

Search a Database to find articles on your topic (don’t be too broad in your search strategy – articles are focused)

Remember there is more than one road to full text access

Search the free web wisely for supplementary materials (don’t forget to evaluate carefully)

To Summarize

* Evaluation form

* libref@hkbu.edu.hk

Wrap-Up – Part II