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ENGL Composition: Helpful Tutorials

This research guide will help with both basic and advanced English composition courses

Seven Search Strategies

  1. AND : Use AND to look for two terms at the same time: Globalization AND Employment→will locate resources containing both terms.

  2. OR: Use OR to look for closely related terms: Gender OR Woman→will look for both, but they do not have to be present in the same resources (this broadens your search).

  3. * (SHIFT + 8): * is usually used at the end of a word that may vary: Nation*→will give you national, nationality, nationhood, and nationalism.

  4. Using quotes when looking for a phrase: "global economy" or "national identity"

  5. Before searching, make a general list of synonyms for search terms.  When one search term does not work, you can substitute another term

  6. For most databases, start with a simple search, using 2 or 3 terms.

  7. "Don't invent the wheel if someone hands you the keys to a Porshe!"→Rely on the subject headings and/or bibliography of a work to find other sources.

 

Helpful Tutorials

Databases

On the Database page, you can select the subject area for your topic, and choose a database that works best.  Here are some general and subject specific databases to give you an idea.

Humanities & Theatre

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