| International Relations Teachers: Mr. Collins Librarian: Mr. Hegarty Summer 2007 |
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Step 1:Understand the assignment: You will be required to produce several short (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 page) analytical essays and prepare a formal oral presentation. Check the syllabus for due dates. |
Plan your time wisely! Use the Assignment Calculator to keep yourself on track. |
Step 2: THINK about what you are required to do.
What is the assignment? When is it due? What materials will you need. Think about your possible topics or area of interest. What are some search terms you may use in locating information for your topic? How would you combine those terms in a search strategy?
For example: "foreign policy or foreign relations or foreign affairs" or "foreign relations and middle east"
Step 3: MODIFY your topic if necessary.
For example, if you are working with one of the topics from step 1, you might need to narrow your search on "foreign relations" to a particular country, such as "foreign relations and Iraq". You can limit by geographical area, a time period, or a particular group of people.
Step 4: LOCATE AND ACCESS information to support your paper.
The best resources for your project will vary depending upon the questions that you have developed to guide your research. Are you looking for statistical information? Current news? An extensive background discussion of a complicated topic? Stop by a Help Desk for assistance in matching your information need with the best resource
2. BOOKS IN THE GARVER ROOM, ON DESK RESERVE AND IN THE OWL CATALOG
| REFERENCE BOOKS IN THE GARVER ROOM: The Garver Room is arranged by Dewey Decimal System. It's logical and easy to browse. Use the reference books to gather a working vocabulary for further searching. Click here for a list of suggested reference books: |
| BOOKS ON RESERVE:Items on reserve for a course may be found through the library's online catalog, OWL. Click on the blue button marked Reserve Desk and search by course or teacher name. Or click here for reserves for this course. |
| BOOKS IN OWHL CATALOG: The library's online catalog, search by author, title, keyword, or Library of Congress subject heading. Check with a librarian for additional help. |
3. ELECTRONIC JOURNAL DATABASES
To find JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Columbia International Affairs Online (ciao) "A comprehensive source for theory and research in international affairs from 1991 onward. Includes working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences."
Congressional Quarterly Researcher "The award-winning The CQ Researcher explores a single "hot" issue in the news in depth each week." International relations issues are included among the topics covered.
InfoTrac Expanded Academic ASAP Indexes over 2300 periodicals from the 1980's to present, appoximately 56% are full text.
JSTOR "A full text collection of scholarly journals."
Lexis Nexis National and international news, in addition to federal and state legislation.
Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature Indexes several hundred periodicals, from 1963 to 1982. Also available in print from 1900 to present. (Ground floor index tables)To find searchable NEWS archives:
The New York Times Retrospective OR Current Content. Full text from 1851 to present.
E-Library Includes full text of many national and international newspapers.
Newsbank for the Boston Globe and other Massachusetts papers.
| With any source, remember to look at it critically. Check out Evaluating the Sources for more information. |
Now that you’ve found your resource material, follow these steps to get the most out it.
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6. TAKE TIME TO REFLECT
Are you satisfied with your efforts and outcome? If not, be sure to review this process thoroughly before your next assignment. Make an appointment with an Instructional Librarian as soon as you receive your assignment to make sure that you get off on the right track next time.
