Comm 121 - Alspach
Research Guides
A Variety of Research Guides are available for subject searching.
Communication Subject Guide (Best Bet)
Legal Resources Subject Guide (Best Bet)
Michigan Law Subject Guide
U.S. Law Subject Guide
Keywords
To find specific resources for your projects use a combination of these terms for searching the FLITE Library catalog and databases. Use the word "AND" to combine search terms.
- your issue name
- law
- statute
- bill
Journal Articles
General
Academic OneFile (Best Bet)
Communication Specific
Communication and Mass Media Complete
Communication Studies (Sage Full-Text) (Best Bet)
Legal Specific
Lexis Nexis Academic Universe
Westlaw Campus (Best Bet)
1) Click the "Law" tab at the top of the page.
2) Type your search term into the search box. Try using more formal descriptors.
For example, "firearm" instead of "gun".
3) To search federal laws click on "United States Code Annotated" under
"Statutes and Regulations".
4) To search state laws click on "State Statutes" under "Statutes and Regulations" and pick your state.
Controversial Topics
Opposing Viewpoints in Context (Best Bet)
CQ Researcher
Facts on File (Check: Issues & Controversies)
Use the Journals tab or "Find--Journals" dropdown to access Find a Periodical and search to find a specific journal title at FLITE.
Newspaper articles
Newspapers often write on current issues. Check out FLITE newspapers including:
Access World News (Best Bet)
InfoTrac Custom Newspapers (120 Full-text Newspapers)
Lexis-Nexis Newspapers
Books
For books and documents in the circulating collection (Main Stacks), use the Online Catalog. Search either using keyword or subject.
Online Information
Recommended Websites
Michigan Legislature Website
Internet Evaluation
There are many webpages on
the Internet which seem to provide quality information, but be aware
that many provide less than valuable or credible information. Check out these websites for some real examples.
FLITE's Online Encyclopedias
As an alternative to Wikipedia FLITE Library now offers two online encyclopedia collections: CREDO Reference and Oxford Reference Online. These sources offer hundreds of easily searched authoratative titles, use them anytime you would use Wikipedia.
Citation Style Guides
Whenever you are quoting or using information from a source, you must credit or cite that source. Failure to do so is plagiarism which can lead to expulsion from the University. FLITE provides a Plagiarism and Citation guide to help you learn more about this important topic. The tutorials and accompanying quizzes can help you determine what constitutes plagiarism.
The following links provide detailed information on using APA citation style:
Citation Style Guide: APA (PDF)
APA List of References
More examples of how cite different types of sources using the APA format.
New--Electronic Resources in APA format
Copies of the full-length APA manual (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed.) are found in the Ready Reference section on Floor 1 of the library near the Oval Information Desk.
Research Help
Librarians are available to help answer research questions and provide other library assistance. You can find librarians at the Oval Information Desk located on the First Floor of FLITE, by phone at 231-591-3602, by email (netref at (@) ferris.edu), or via chat http://www.ferris.edu/library/reference/helppagechat.html. More information is available at FLITE help.
Make an appointment for a research consultation with a librarian - one-on-one personal library help for any course.
Contact: Mari Kermit-Canfield / Email / Phone: 231-591-3636 / Office: FLITE 140G
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.
Last update: June 9th, 2010