Introduction to College English Research
Find the peer-reviewed articles and other resources you will need for annotated bibliographies and papers in your college English classes.
Questions?
Call: (337) 482-6025
Email: reference@louisiana.edu
Text: (337) 205-7558
Visit: 1st Floor - Dupré Library
Hours: Reference Desk/Chat
Note: Reference Chat and Email services are primarily for the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The department will assist the public if the question concerns the University or some unique resource of Dupré Library, such as Federal government publications.
Contact
Jennifer Hamilton
Contact:
Head of Instruction / Asst. Professor
Room 153 (behind the mural in Reference)
Room 153 (behind the mural in Reference)
(337) 482-1160
Website
Searching Smart
STEP 1: Start Your Research Notes
- Taking good notes from your very first search will save you a lot of time
- Keep your research notes somewhere you can always get to easily—in the Cloud using Google Docs, Dropbox, etc., or on a USB drive on your keychain.
- Track search terms, successful database searches, article citations, and permalinks to get back to the articles you find.
STEP 2: Gather Background Info
- Quickly gather and read some good overviews on your topic
- These will help you
- Finalize your topic - learn what aspects of the topic interest you the most
- Brainstorm search terms - Can't find anything on your topic? Good search terms (and lots of them) will make or break your research. Your librarians can help—use ref desk and chat!
- Find subject experts, recommended data sources, and articles
Tools for Finding Background Info
- Credo - Mind MapThe Credo Mind Map is a great way to brainstorm possible search terms and find background info at the same time. Click on any term in the map to generate more terms. Check out the list of articles on the right to learn more.
- eBooks | Gale ** This link opens in a new windowThis virtual reference collection gives you access to thousands of subject encyclopedias and collections of literary criticism. Great source of background info! Note that the Bookmark button will give you a permalink back to any article.
- Journalist's ResourceThis website is a place for journalists to find background information and recommended information sources on a wide variety of topics. It's also a great place to start student research, and to find topics of interest to you. The site is maintained by the Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy.