Explorations 160
Research Paper Survival Workshop
Holly Hendrigan
Liaison Librarian, Explorations
8 March 2011
Today’s workshop
1. Survey
2. Developing your topic
3. Finding background information
(4. Using the catalogue to find books)
5. Searching indexes to find periodical articles
6. Citing what you find
Getting to know you
• Topic survey
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Public art
Pop Art
Oscar Wilde
Greek theatre
– Who has spent some time on the EXPL 160 Research Guide?
– Who is familiar with
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Fast Search
MLA Bibliography
Art Full Text
Lexus Nexus
Web of Science
Developing your topic
• Pay very close attention to the words used in
the essay topic
• Identify the main concepts
• Greek tragic theatre is often said to be
“cathartic.” Create an argument about the
cathartic function of Sophocles’ Oedipus
Rex. Use three scholarly sources, of which at
least one makes reference to the social
function of the theatre in Ancient Greece.
Instructions re: form AND content
• Form:
– argument paper
– 3 scholarly sources
• Book, peer-reviewed journal article, academic film
Argument paper
• “An argumentative or persuasive piece of
writing must begin with a debatable thesis or
claim. In other words, the thesis must be
something that people could reasonably have
differing opinions on. If your thesis is
something that is generally agreed upon or
accepted as fact then there is no reason to try
to persuade people.” (Purdue University
Online Writing Lab)
Research implications
• You’re not just looking to support your point
of view
• You’re also looking to discuss the debate
Content
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Greek tragedy
Catharsis
Sophocles
Oedipus Rex
Social function of theatre
Use Boolean logic
AND : connects concepts
Oedipus Rex AND catharsis
– LIMITS your search
OR : searches for additional related terms
(Sophocles OR Greek theatre)
– EXPANDS your search
NOT : eliminates certain terms
Oedipus NOT Antigone
– TARGETS your search
Putting it together
In a perfect information world:
Sophocles AND “oedipus rex” AND catharsis AND
greek tragedy AND “social function of theatre”
Would net you the “perfect article” from one source
• In the imperfect information world we live in:
researchers need to search different places, and
synthesize results themselves
Finding background information
• Enables understanding of the assignment, the
text, and criticism of the text
– Eg, What’s catharsis? What is pop-art? What’s an
“official” definition of a parody?
– SFU Library Research guides: Background
information
Another format: Films on Demand
“Writing about music is like dancing about
architecture.”
This assignment happens to be written, but your
opinions can be informed via film
(Might not be the heart of your argument, but
will help provide context)
Films on Demand: See “Background sources” in
EXPL guide
Using the catalogue
• Tip: keyword searching is a blunt instrument
– Keywords include the fields: author, title, subject,
table of contents, notes.
– Recall vs relevance: high recall (many titles) is
usually at the expense of high relevance (useful
titles)
Keyword search: greek theatre social
Using indexes
• See: EXPL 160 Research Guides: Books and
Articles
• A journal is refereed or peer reviewed if its
articles have been evaluated by experts before
publication. The experts advise the journal's
editor for or against publication of the articles.
Peer review insures that the research described
in a journal's articles is sound and of high quality.
Database searching
Academic Search Premier: multidisciplinary
journal article database
MLA International Bibliography
Art Full Text
Database search tips
• Use subject terms or “Names as subject”
functions
– Eg. In MLA Bibliography: Oscar Wilde as keyword:
2148
– As “Names as subject”: 2081
– “Parody” as keyword: 3802
– “Parody” as subject: 3100
– (DE "Wilde, Oscar") AND DE "parody“: 13 results.
“Oscar Wilde, or, the Prehistory of Postmodern
Parody” and “Wilde as Parodist: A Second Look at The
Importance of Being Earnest” worth looking at.
News sources (#1, especially)
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Provide context and information
Use sparingly (not peer reviewed)
Sometimes, they’re all that is available
Sometimes, they lead you to experts who
might have written something scholarly
Notes re: citation
• EXPL 160 research guide: provides links to the
MLA citation guide
• Also provides a links to how to write an
annotated bibliography
• We get asked all the time how to cite different
sources, so don’t be shy!
Summary
1. Developing your topic
2. Finding background information
(3. Using the catalogue to find books)
4. Searching indexes to find articles
5. Peer reviewed journals
6. Citing what you find
Questions? More help
• Me: hah1@sfu.ca
• Surrey reference desk open 10-6
• Ask Us form on guide: phone, e-mail, chat