ENGL 150 - Webb
Where to find material at FLITE:
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Researching Your History Topic - Taken From Your Personal Interview
Be sure you find out when your event took place. That will be key for your searches. You can use Wikipedia or FLITE's suggested factual resource, Credo Reference.
Starting with Credo Reference gives you basic background information on as many topics as Wikipedia, all cross-linked and reliable. Use Credo Reference for other classes, especially those classes with instructors who don't want you to use Wikipedia.
Your Assignment
You are required to find:
- One source from a search engine
- One source from a database
- One source from a magazine at the time your event took place
- One source from a newspaper at the time your event took place
We reviewed all these sources in class, but they are summarized below:
Search EngineUsing Google to search well - remember the tips we discussed in class:
- Use Advanced Search
- Use the Wonder Wheel to broaden or narrow your search
- Restrict your searches to .gov or .edu to get more reliable websites
Use General OneFile as shown.
FLITE has more than 100 different databases. We learned to use one general database to begin this assignment. You will use other more specialized databases as you move through your classes at Ferris.
Older Magazine Article
Use General OneFile again.
Because you wil be searching for older articles, use this database because it contains material back to the early 1900's. Advanced Search will work the best so you can use the "Dates Range" limit to get the dates you need. Not all articles will be available in full-text, especially older articles. You might need to use microfilm or microfiche to find older issues. Some magazines or journals might be bound in print as well. Remember that not everything is available online.
Older Newspaper Articles
New York Times (Historical) (or other historical newspapers)
Full-text articles from this highly-regarded source are available here from its first issue in 1851.
Access World News
Access World News is a terrific source for current information from newspapers. Use it for many other classes, even if your own
event isn't found here. It contains the full-text of nearly 1700 primarily English-language news sources from around the world.
Suggestions to retrieve better/more results:
- Search topic as both a keyword and subject
- Combine terms with AND or OR
- Set date ranges limit to a specific time
- Use quotes for phrases
- Subject search: Search for the subject of your topic.
Example:
Topic: German Immigration
Subject: German Americans (You hope the database will send you here.) - Advanced (Keyword) search: Search for keywords on your topic.
Example:
Topic: The invention of the car
Keywords: automobile history (Be brief with keywords - pick the important ones, not all.)
Other databases are sorted by subject from the Database Access page.
Please read Off Campus Database Access for information on searching away from campus.
Finding Books at FLITE
For books and documents in the circulating collection (Main Stacks), use the Library Catalog. Search either using keyword or subject.
Book Locations
- Main Stacks, Call Numbers A-H - Lower Level
- Main Stacks, Call Number J-Z - Third Floor
- Reference - First Floor
- Government Documents - Second Floor
MelCat
Use MelCat to look up books in other Michigan Libraries. MelCat items will be delivered to the circulation desk and you will receive an Email when the items arrive.
Citing Sources
Citation Style Guide: MLA (PDF)
An online version of FLITE's MLA Quick Reference handout, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
MLA Format
More examples of how cite different types of sources using the MLA format.
Copies of the MLA Handbook are found near the Oval Information Desk on the First Floor of FLITE, in the FLITE Reference section (also on Floor 1), and on Floor 3 in the Education section.
Citations - a FLITE guide
A guide to understanding citations, and a link to different online citation management tools that can help you input your sources and create your bibliographies.
Online Information
Internet Evaluation
Check out urban legends, hoaxes, and misinformation.
Snopes.com
Are all websites created equal?
Internet Examples
Quick Internet Evaluation Form
Contact: Kristy Motz / Email / Phone: 231-591-3625 / Office: FLITE 140H
Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.
If you would like to make an appointment for a one-on-one research consultation with a librarian, use this online form.
Last update: November 10, 2010