North Seattle Community College North Seattle Community College
Library & Media Services

Research Guide for MUSC110: Theatre Styles of Japan (Noh and Kabuki)

kabuki poster

Prepared by Elinor Appel
NSCC Librarian (contact info).

NSCC Library (this will open in a new window)

Your task for this first research assignment:

  • Choose ONE topic: Noh or Kabuki
  • Research your topic using the library sources listed below
  • Create a fact sheet with bullet points
  • Use parenthetical citations

Handout & links for your second research assignment

Required sources

  • One periodical article from an NSCC library database
  • One print article or chapter from an NSCC library book

Image source: Mithrandir3 on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Websites

Looking critically @ Web sites: Is this an appropriate resource for your research? Why or why not? Consider who created the content, and why:

  • Always check your online source for Authority, Bias, Currency & Documentation.
    • 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?
    • Documentation: does the web resource provide link to other sources to support or develop the information it provides?
  • Good rule of thumb: a reliable, college-level source is created by a person or institution with knowledge about the topic (authority), is clear about its purpose, is up to date, and provides documentation.

Web-search tips

  • Limit your search by domain, for instance by type (edu) or by country:

    •  

  • Use the periodical locator to see whether NSCC has the full text to the articles you find in searching the open web. If you find an article online but can't get past the "pay wall" ...


    • Type the publication title into the Periodical Locator (on databases page):
    And if we have it in our collection, pull it up from a periodical database.

Finding Articles in Periodical Databases

Periodical databases are better a source of full-text reputable articles in publications ranging from popular to scholarly than the open Web.

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:

Good periodical databases for your research:

To access these databases from off campus, log in with your Student ID Number and last name.

Finding Books in the Library

Use books for both background information (reference books) or in-depth information (circulating collection).

Selected reference books on music and the theater for your research:

Basic encyclopedias about Japan and Asia:

NOTE: Please do NOT use a basic dictionary about Japan. Your source needs to provide you with enough content you can work from and should require a little bit of reading and research.

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. 

Then 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. Locate the materials by library and call number. Use your Student ID card to check them out.

At the bottom of the page is a silent demontration. Notice how this savvy searcher moves from a keyword search (Noh drama) to a Subject search (NoŻ) and checks call number, availability and library location for the books she finds.

In-text citations

In your list of information you will need to tell your reader where you got your information using in-text (or parenthetical) citation. Check your assignment to see what your instructor wants. You can find more information on in-text citation here: