Library Research Help for English 113.3
January 2010
Use this handout to get tips on HOW to search, WHERE to search, and how to
LOCATE the items for which you find references
General Tips for searching in databases and the library catalogue:
1. Use “ “ to search for a phrase, such as a title
“Yellow Wallpaper”
2. Identify the main concepts of your topic or question (AND)
“Yellow Wallpaper” and gender
3. Think of possible synonyms and related terms (OR)
“Yellow Wallpaper” and (feminine or gender)
4. Identify words that could have a variety of possible endings
feminist
feminine
put a * after the last common letter (femini*)
feminism
“Yellow Wallpaper” and (femini* or gender)
Where to search:
1. Begin at the library’s homepage: http://library.usask.ca/
2. Select “Subject Pages” and click on the one for English
http://library.usask.ca/subject/eng/articles
3. For journal articles select the first database under “Best Bets” : MLA International
Bibliography. Also use the others listed there.
4. For books in our library, and electronic versions when available, select the “Books &
Theses” tab and then Our Catalogue
5. For the course handout, Requirements for Essays style guide and general help
pages select “Research Assistance”
Finding and Accessing Material listed in databases and the catalogue:
1. In the MLA database “results list”, look for the publication type (which appears in
parentheses) at the end of each record.
Doctoring 'The Yellow Wallpaper'By: Thrailkill, Jane F.; ELH, 2002 Summer; 69 (2):
525-66. (journal article)
•
Journal article: click on Full Text or
get the library’s call number
•
Book article: copy the title of the book (which appears in the record after the
names of the editor/s) and paste into a title search in the U of S library catalogue
•
Book or book collection: copy the title of the book (the only title in the record)
and paste into a title search in the U of S library catalogue
•
Dissertation abstract: Ignore these references – they are most likely not
available in the library
to view the article online and/or
2. In the library catalogue, if a book you search for is listed you may request it through
off campus library services at http://library.usask.ca/offcampus. If you wish to pick it up
yourself, note the location of the book, the call number, and whether or not it is
currently in the library:
Title
Author
Published
The Charlotte Perkins Gilman reader : The yellow wallpaper, and
other fiction / edited and introduced by Ann J. Lane
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, 1860-1935
New York : Pantheon Books, 1980
LOCATION
Main Lib-2nd Flr North
CALL #
PS1744 .G57A18 1980
STATUS
IN LIBRARY