OKANAGAN COLLEGEOKANAGAN COLLEGEDepartment of CommunicationsDepartment of Communications

CMNS 143: Technical Communication IICMNS 143: Technical Communication IISection 002Section 002

Introduction to the Library Research ProcessIntroduction to the Library Research Process

Gilbert BedeGilbert BedeCommunications Liaison LibrarianCommunications Liaison Librarian

250-762-5445 Local 4751250-762-5445 Local 4751gbede@okanagan.bc.cagbede@okanagan.bc.ca

Class PollClass Poll How many of you use the library?How many of you use the library? How many of you have had library research instruction How many of you have had library research instruction

before?before? Where do you usually start when you are conducting your Where do you usually start when you are conducting your

research?research? LibraryLibrary GoogleGoogle WikipediaWikipedia OtherOther

Do you usually find the information that you are looking Do you usually find the information that you are looking for?for?

Do you find yourself getting frustrated because you can’t Do you find yourself getting frustrated because you can’t find the information that you need?find the information that you need?

Report vs. ThesisReport vs. Thesis

ReportReport The subject and The subject and

purpose of your paper purpose of your paper is organized around is organized around the views of other the views of other authorsauthors

ThesisThesis You are presenting You are presenting

hard empirical hard empirical evidence to support evidence to support your research your research hypothesishypothesis

Learning How To Prepare A Learning How To Prepare A

Research PaperResearch Paper

Before you race off and start searchingBefore you race off and start searching Choose an Choose an appropriateappropriate subject subject

It is appropriate if it appeals to youIt is appropriate if it appeals to you It is acceptable to the intended reader It is acceptable to the intended reader

LimitLimit your subject properly your subject properly

Sports Sports Olympics Olympics Winter Olympics Winter Olympics Vancouver Vancouver 2010 Olympics 2010 Olympics Athletes Village Athletes Village Funding Funding

Central IdeaCentral Idea

Once you have decided on your subject and Once you have decided on your subject and the purpose of your paper focus on setting the purpose of your paper focus on setting down the central idea on your paperdown the central idea on your paper

One rule of thumb that may help you is to develop a One rule of thumb that may help you is to develop a working title for your paperworking title for your paper

““How the world wide economic down turn negatively How the world wide economic down turn negatively impacted the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games impacted the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Athletes Village”Athletes Village”

Why Develop a Outline?Why Develop a Outline? It will get you focusedIt will get you focused It will help contribute to the unity of the compositionIt will help contribute to the unity of the composition Result in a better organized paperResult in a better organized paper Important details / arguments that you want to Important details / arguments that you want to

communicate to the reader will be more clearly communicate to the reader will be more clearly understoodunderstood

You will be better prepared to search out and You will be better prepared to search out and discover the information you require discover the information you require

You will be better prepared to discuss your You will be better prepared to discuss your information requirements with othersinformation requirements with others

It will save you time in the long runIt will save you time in the long run

OutlineOutline Central ideaCentral idea: The actual cost of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Village have yet to : The actual cost of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Village have yet to

be identified and as result are creating a stress related situation the public, be identified and as result are creating a stress related situation the public, VANOC, the City of Vancouver and the Government of BC.VANOC, the City of Vancouver and the Government of BC.

IntroductionIntroduction: Because of the economic downturn in the world economy the : Because of the economic downturn in the world economy the original funding plan for the Olympic Village was no longer viable. A new funding original funding plan for the Olympic Village was no longer viable. A new funding plan needed to be developed. As a result, at this point in time actual final costs plan needed to be developed. As a result, at this point in time actual final costs of completing the Olympic Village are not known. of completing the Olympic Village are not known.

Background: Background: Information on the original financing proposalInformation on the original financing proposal Information on how the financial downturn impacted the original financing Information on how the financial downturn impacted the original financing

proposalproposal Current Situation and AnalysisCurrent Situation and Analysis::

The Olympic Village needs to be completedThe Olympic Village needs to be completed The City of Vancouver is ultimately responsible for ensuring thisThe City of Vancouver is ultimately responsible for ensuring this The City of Vancouver needs to raise financingThe City of Vancouver needs to raise financing To do this required the BC Government to amend the City of Vancouver To do this required the BC Government to amend the City of Vancouver

Charter to allow them to borrow moneyCharter to allow them to borrow money The City of Vancouver is now actively involved in identifying new financingThe City of Vancouver is now actively involved in identifying new financing The public is worried that they will have to pay more for the 2010 OlympicsThe public is worried that they will have to pay more for the 2010 Olympics

ConclusionConclusion: As of yet no final financial figure is available that identifies the : As of yet no final financial figure is available that identifies the actual cost of the Olympic Village for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympicsactual cost of the Olympic Village for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

Reference List / BibliographyReference List / Bibliography

Transforming Your Outline Into A Transforming Your Outline Into A Search StrategySearch Strategy

In developing your plan you should start In developing your plan you should start asking yourself a number of questionsasking yourself a number of questions Where would I find the information I needWhere would I find the information I need

Do I need a Book?Do I need a Book? Do I need a Scholarly article?Do I need a Scholarly article? Should I interview someone?Should I interview someone?

Who else has written on this subject?Who else has written on this subject? How much time do I have?How much time do I have? How will I know if the information I discover How will I know if the information I discover

is is up-to-dateup-to-date and and authoritativeauthoritative

Scholarly (Peer Reviewed)Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) AuthorityAuthority – Is the information authored by experts with credentials and / or scholarly or – Is the information authored by experts with credentials and / or scholarly or

professional affiliations? Look for Author information such as advanced degrees and professional affiliations? Look for Author information such as advanced degrees and university affiliation, past and current positions in industry, government, etc..university affiliation, past and current positions in industry, government, etc..

PublicationPublication – How is the information published? A magazine is slick and glossy with – How is the information published? A magazine is slick and glossy with many advertisements. Magazine articles are just a few pages. There is little author many advertisements. Magazine articles are just a few pages. There is little author information in magazines. Peer-reviewed journals are not slick and have few information in magazines. Peer-reviewed journals are not slick and have few advertisements. The articles tend to be long with tables, graphs, and data. The article advertisements. The articles tend to be long with tables, graphs, and data. The article will have several sections such as literature review, methodology, results and will have several sections such as literature review, methodology, results and conclusions. Does the article have a bibliography, endnotes or footnotes? Almost all conclusions. Does the article have a bibliography, endnotes or footnotes? Almost all scholarly publications (e.g. books and articles) will have citations. Is there an editorial scholarly publications (e.g. books and articles) will have citations. Is there an editorial board and instructions on how to submit articles.board and instructions on how to submit articles.

Ulrich’sUlrich’s

SourceSource -Some of the best sources for scholarly information are: -Some of the best sources for scholarly information are:Peer-Reviewed Journals, Books, Theses/DissertationsPeer-Reviewed Journals, Books, Theses/DissertationsStatistical Data Sets, etc.Statistical Data Sets, etc.

Less Scholarly SourcesLess Scholarly SourcesSome sources that are less scholarly and do not have as much high quality academic Some sources that are less scholarly and do not have as much high quality academic information should be evaluated independently on the basis of authority, publication, information should be evaluated independently on the basis of authority, publication, and source.and source.Magazines , Newspapers, some aspects of the Web, etc.Magazines , Newspapers, some aspects of the Web, etc.

Starting PointsStarting Points

Print vs. PixelsPrint vs. Pixels How many of you think everything is How many of you think everything is

online in a digital format?online in a digital format? Google estimates that it will take over 300 Google estimates that it will take over 300

years to digitize all of the information years to digitize all of the information currently available in printcurrently available in print

Always be aware that the full-text may not Always be aware that the full-text may not be availablebe available

Print CollectionPrint Collection Interlibrary Loan Interlibrary Loan

My Kingdom For The Right My Kingdom For The Right KeywordKeyword

The primary method used for searching The primary method used for searching for information is through the use of for information is through the use of keywordskeywords

There are many different ways of There are many different ways of describing the same thing in the english describing the same thing in the english languagelanguage

Create a list of possible keywords that Create a list of possible keywords that you may want to tryyou may want to try

TrebuchetTrebuchet

Trebuchet -- Design or Trebuchet -- Design or Mechanics Siege EngineSiege Engine CatapultCatapult Medieval ArtilleryMedieval Artillery Medieval Missile LaunchersMedieval Missile Launchers Levered Artillery Levered Artillery Applied RetromechanicsApplied Retromechanics Siege engine dynamics Force and Energy

Spaghetti BridgesSpaghetti Bridges

Spaghetti BridgesSpaghetti Bridges Bridges -- Design and constructionBridges -- Design and construction Bridges -- Cable-stayed Design and construction Bridges -- Cable-stayed Design and construction Bridges -- Aerodynamics Bridges -- Aerodynamics Bridges -- Maintenance and repairBridges -- Maintenance and repair Bridges – VibrationBridges – Vibration Structural Engineering & Design Structural Engineering & Design Structural failures Structural failures Suspension bridgesSuspension bridges Didactic Games In Engineering Teaching

Sea to Sky Highway Sea to Sky Highway Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

Highway 99Highway 99 Sea-to-Sky HighwaySea-to-Sky Highway Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment Environmental Assessment Office (BC)Environmental Assessment Office (BC) Environmentalist Environmentalist Vancouver 2010 Winter OlympicsVancouver 2010 Winter Olympics OppositionOpposition

Testing & Modifying Your Testing & Modifying Your KeywordsKeywords

Sometimes your keywords are highly Sometimes your keywords are highly successful…successful…

Sometimes you have to modify themSometimes you have to modify them When you find information that looks like When you find information that looks like

it could be useful read it criticallyit could be useful read it critically Look for alternative keywordsLook for alternative keywords Look for related concepts Look for related concepts Check for Reference List or BibliographyCheck for Reference List or Bibliography

How to Read a PaperHow to Read a Paper

ACM SIGCOMM Computer ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review Communication Review Volume 37 ,  Issue 3  (July 2007) Volume 37 ,  Issue 3  (July 2007)

Off Campus AccessOff Campus Access

The Library Web PageThe Library Web Page

Library CatalogueLibrary Catalogue

http://library-1.okanagan.bc.ca/

Article DatabasesArticle Databases

http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/administration/students/library/research/findarticles.html

E-JournalsE-Journals

http://cufts2.lib.sfu.ca/CJDB/BKOC/browse

The World Wide WebThe World Wide Web

Google vs. Google ScholarGoogle vs. Google Scholar

http://scholar.google.ca/schhp?hl=en&tab=ws

QPLegalezeQPLegaleze

http://ezproxy.okanagan.bc.ca/login?url=http://www.eln.qplegaleze.ca/http://ezproxy.okanagan.bc.ca/login?url=http://www.eln.qplegaleze.ca/

Government DocumentsGovernment Documents

http://www.google.ca/advanced_search?hl=en

How do I know when I have How do I know when I have Enough Information?Enough Information?

Have you discovered information that Have you discovered information that supports the arguments described in your supports the arguments described in your OutlineOutline

Have you been able to determine the Have you been able to determine the authority of all your sourcesauthority of all your sources

You run out of timeYou run out of time

APA Style GuideAPA Style Guide

http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/Assets/Departments+(Administration)/Library/PDFs/apa.pdfhttp://www.okanagan.bc.ca/Assets/Departments+(Administration)/Library/PDFs/apa.pdf

Getting More HelpGetting More Help

Gilbert BedeGilbert Bede

250-762-5445 Local 4751250-762-5445 Local 4751

gbede@okanagan.bc.cagbede@okanagan.bc.ca

OrOr

Come and Visit Us in the LibraryCome and Visit Us in the Library

QuestionsQuestions