Research Guide for DRMA105: Group Presentations on Indian or Japanese Theatre
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Prepared by Elinor Appel To get help: Email me, ask an online librarian, or come to the library reference desk and chat with a librarian. NSCC Library (this will open in a new window) Bibliography requirements:
My goals for you:
Kathakali actor. Image licensed under Creative Commons on Flickr by WarpHed. Link: "India #1 (1959), all rights reserved by the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum). |
Keywords
Consider your keywords (search terms) in order to retrieve the results you want.
- When you search, remember to use both broad and narrow search terms: Kathakali (narrow), theatre (broader); performance (very broad). Adjust your terms to fit the tool you are searching. In Google you can use narrow terms, but it is often better to use broader terms when searching an online catalog. Also: Theatre? Theater? Try: theat? (library catalog) or theat* (Google and library databases)
Looking critically @ Web sites: . Is this a good resource for your research? Why or why not? Consider who created the content, and why:
Web-search tips
- Limit your search by domain, for instance by country:
- Always check your online source for Authority,
Bias, and Currency.
- Authority: who created the content? How do you know the author is a good resource?
- Bias: what is the bias, mission, or standpoint of the resource? Is its bias clear?
- Currency: when was the page last updated? Is the information still relevant?
- Think about how you would introduce this material in your presentation: does it still make sense to use it?
Periodical databases contain full-text reputable articles in publications ranging from popular to scholarly.
Most periodical databases look and act the same when you search them. Be sure you find and select the full-text box. Keep your first searches simple as you begin:
Databases are arranged so that you can mix and match your search terms to get the best results. Use:
- and – for combining concepts/keywords, which will narrow the search: Japanese and drama
- or – when you are using related terms, will broaden the search: Noh or Kibuki
Good periodical databases for your research:
- Academic Search Premier - a general database with a range of articles
- eLibrary Academic - this database includes images, transcripts, and online books
- JSTOR - older articles in the Humanities
- ProQuest - another general database
To access these databases from off campus, log in with your Student ID Number and last name.
Use books for both background information (reference books) or in-depth information (circulating collection).
Refer to Finding Books for tips on searching the catalog using keywords and subjects. Begin with a Keyword Relevance search:
Then find a title that looks good:
Click on the title to open the record. Check location, call number, and availability. Not at North? Request it to be sent here via the "request item" link at the top or bottom of the screen.
Locate the subjects in the record . . .
These subject links will lead to more on the same topic. Click the subject heading and click through to a listing of related materials.
Finding Videos and DVDs in online catalogs
Limit your searches on the first catalog page:
Or ask a librarian about the online browse list of DVDs and videos in our collection. These are organized by subject.
Or search WorldCat to check library holdings in the area.
