Research Guide for Language Matters: Politics, Media, and Identity
 |
Prepared by Elinor Appel January 28: Finding a reputable anchor text on your subculture for tomorrow
February 20 & 25: collecting a variety of at least 6 relevant, authoritative texts
Image licensed on Flickr under Creative Commons by Rauticination. |
Search tips:
Consider your keywords (search terms) in order to retrieve the results you want.
- Use "insider terms" for primary sources; use descriptive terms for secondary sources. A search for pwn on Google or YouTube is more likely to bring up a primary source than the terms gamer subculture language.
- Experiment with different search terms: subculture, slang, culture. Some will work better than others for your topic.
- Do some words have more than one meaning? For instance: surf. What terms would you add to retrieve better results?
To find reputable information on the Internet, be sure to use strategies like limiting your searches by domain (edu, gov, etc.), and checking for authority, bias and currency. Does the site provide references? Does the author or creator of the website have the credentials to speak as an authority? Evaluate your online sources carefully to ensure that they are an appropriate resource for your research project.
General
- A Dictionary of Slang - British resource
- OnlineSlangDictionary.com - dictionary compiled by hobbiest
- Shredbook - online slang dictionary for sports enthusiasts
- Urban Dictionary - online slang dictionary created by everyone (authority?)
Selected
- Class links - via del.icio.us/eappel
- Internet Public Library - an online library of resources
- Librarians' Internet Index - subject directory of librarian-approved links
Periodical databases are your best resource for finding articls. Refer to Finding Articles for tips on how to search ProQuest using keywords and Topics. Again: think about your keywords. Experiment with related terms, for instance: jargon, slang,
- and – for combining concepts/keywords, will narrow the search: surfer and slang (limits search)
- or – when you are using related terms, will broaden the search: hip hop or rap (broadens search)
- “ ” – use quotes around phrases if you need to show that the words are together: "instant messaging " (not necessary in an advanced search)
- Topics - use Topics in ProQuest, Subjects in Academic Search Premier, and other controlled vocabulary links to find related articles
Other periodical databases:
- Academic Search Premier - another general database with a range of articles
- eLibrary Academic - an articles database that includes images, transcripts
- ERIC - academic articles, news items, and other information for and by educators
- Ethnic NewsWatch - articles from ethnic and minority publications
- JSTOR - older articles from academic journals
Need a scholarly article? Check the database for a search limit for academic, scholarly, or peer reviewed journals and check the box. For instance, in ProQuest you need to check this box:
To access these databases from off campus, log in with your SID and last name.
Books
Books - use these for both background information (reference books) or in-depth information (circulating collection). Often a good place to start with your research is in the reference collection, where you will find a wide variety of topical encyclopedias.
Selected reference books:
- Encyclopedia of Censorship, 3 vols. [Ref Z 658 .U5 C38 1997
- Slang: The Topical Dictionary of Americanisms [Ref PE 2846.D53 2006]
- Talk the Talk: The Slang of 65 American Subcultures [Ref PE 2846 .R43 2006]
- Dictionary of Contemporary Slang [online library resource]
Refer to Finding Books for tips on searching the catalog using keywords and Subjects. Keep your starting terms simple and broad.
For example, 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.
Locate the Subjects in the record . . .
These subject links will often lead to more material on the same topic.
Once you find a title or two in the catalog, locate them in the circulating collection upstairs and then browse the shelves in that area for related books on your topic.
A few final points:
- Can't find a book on your topic? Consider searching more broadly, then check the index of the book for information related to your topic. (Just because your topic isn't in the title doesn't mean it isn't in the book!)
- You might need to approach your research from more than one angle, for instance if you are researching the language used in ads, books on advertising and books on language or communication might both have texts you can use for your topic. These books will be located in different parts of the library and have different call numbers.
- For some topics you will find more information in books, for others it will be more useful to search periodical databases for articles. This is especially true of newer information.
For your annotated bibliograpy, you will need to find at least 5 - 6 sources (beyond your text book) that are relevant, authoritative, and as current as possible. In addition, you will need to consider how these sources relate, support, and balance each other. Please refer to your instructor's Checklist for Evaluating Sources for more information on these requirements.
Use Noodlebib to format and save your sources. Register with Noodlebib while on campus, then use it from any location. or email me for a one-time log in to create your Noodlebib account. (Example of a saved Noodlebib file.)
Your instructor has given you citation information for your bibliography. Here are some additional resources:
- Citation Style Guides, North Seattle Community College
- MLA Citation Style (Cornell University Library); includes how to cite an article retrieved from a periodical database
- MLA Formatting and Style Guide (Owl Writing Center at Purdue University); see Works Cited: Electronic Resources
- Annotated Bibliographies, Owl Writing Center at Purdue University
- How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography, Cornell University
