assistance needed E

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 1 of 4

Introduction to Academic Research & Library Databases

Speaker: Kameo Cragoe

As we discussed in LU01, research writing is a process. At times, it can be an exciting process because we

have opportunities to learn about new ideas, thoughts, arguments, and theories through our research.

Other times, though, the process can seem daunting and overwhelming. Perhaps we find too much

research and we don’t know how to choose the most appropriate sources. Maybe we have difficulty

locating the types of sources we need to inform our readers about a particular discussion. These

situations are common during the research process, but understanding the basic principles of academic

research as well as the effective use of library databases can help us reduce frustrations and increase

our chances for a successful, rewarding research experience.

By the time you complete this learning unit, you should have chosen a controversial topic. Remember

that you will research and write about this topic for the remainder of the course, so chose the topic

carefully.

Once you have chosen a topic and formulated your research question (see the “Topic Selection &

Narrowing a Topic” lecture for more instruction on topic selection), you are ready to dig into the

research process. The two main areas that we will focus on in this lecture will be how to conduct

academic research and how to use the library databases.

For most controversial topics, a student will be able to procure a myriad of sources. Let’s take the topic

of gun control. If a student typed “gun control” into the Google search engine, he would likely have

access to thousands upon thousands of websites, articles, books, etc. on the topic of gun control. Not

many of us have the time to read through 50,000 potential sources to determine their worth or their

potential application to our writing, though. Even more, we would need to consider how many of those

sources would be considered academic research.

In your previous classes, you’ve probably heard your professors discuss academic writing. It is a type of

writing that comes with a set of standards and expectations. In fact, most types of writing come with

standards and expectations. In academic writing, we work to use a professional tone; organize our ideas

in a coherent structure; focus on relevant, and important topics that are often related to a particular

field or discipline; and engage in a conversation with other scholars and professionals. The other

important characteristic of academic writing is that we must use academic research. This type of

research consists of reliable and authoritative sources. In other words, the sources are written by

authors with reputable credentials, and the discussions are relevant and recent. In addition, the

information provided by these authors should be supported and documented by research.

Be sure to carefully review the assigned reading in your handbook for an in-depth discussion of

academic research and evaluating sources. Knowing how to use and integrate this research into your

essays will be an integral part of your grade. Professors often penalize students’ grades when unreliable

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 2 of 4

research is used within research essays, as academia and the professional world tend to frown on

unreliable and/or outdated research.

When students attempt to locate academic research, they often ask, “Where do I find academic

sources?” The answer to this question is not always simple, as we can find academic sources in a variety

of places. We can find them though a Google search on the Internet; in the college library; and in

published newspapers, magazines, and journals. Another very useful place to find academic sources,

though, is through a college’s library databases.

Because research is an integral part of the academic landscape, academic institutions are committed to

providing their students with reliable, credible, and recent research. Thus, colleges pay to subscribe to

various databases. These databases provide students with a host of academic sources, and students can

usually access these sources with an Internet connection, either at home or on the college campus.

As a student of Indian Hills, you can access the databases on campus or from an alternative location, as

long as you have Internet connection and the database passwords (available on MyHills).

First, navigate to the Indian Hills homepage. At the bottom of the page, click on the “Library” link.

Once you are directed to the library’s page, scroll down and review all of the research resources that are

available to students. In particular, you may want to review the following documents:

 “Library Services”

 “Hours of Operation and Contact Information”

 “Research Tips”

 “Library Catalog”

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 3 of 4

 “ebooks”

 “Magazine and Journal Listing”

 “MLA Documentation of Electronic Resources”

 “Internet Resources”

 “Composition II Handout”

Once you have become familiar with these resources, scroll back to the top of the library’s page. Click on

“Library Databases.”

This link will take you to all of the databases subscribed to by Indian Hills Community College. As you

scroll through the names, read the descriptions of the databases. Depending upon your topic, some

databases may be more useful than others.

For Composition II, these tend to be frequently used databases:

 CQ Researcher

 EBSCO Periodical Index

 Electric Library

 LexisNexis Academic

 NewsBank

 Opposing Viewpoints

 SIRS

Each database is uniquely designed, so you will navigate each database differently. Pay attention to

instructions and search options, as these will help you find the sources relevant to your topic.

NOTE: When you are conducting research off-campus, you will need to use the database passwords. You

will not be able to gain access to the databases without these passwords. The passwords may be found

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 4 of 4

in MyHills. To access them, go to your MyHills home page, look for the “My Services” content box on the

home page, and click on the “Library Database Passwords” button.

Again, be sure to carefully read the assigned reading in your handbook. This reading is full of helpful

research tips as well as information on how to evaluate sources. Solid research is a vital component of

research writing; thus, research carefully and thoroughly.

© Kameo Cragoe and Indian Hills Community College

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 1 of 4

Introduction to Academic Research & Library Databases

Speaker: Kameo Cragoe

As we discussed in LU01, research writing is a process. At times, it can be an exciting process because we

have opportunities to learn about new ideas, thoughts, arguments, and theories through our research.

Other times, though, the process can seem daunting and overwhelming. Perhaps we find too much

research and we don’t know how to choose the most appropriate sources. Maybe we have difficulty

locating the types of sources we need to inform our readers about a particular discussion. These

situations are common during the research process, but understanding the basic principles of academic

research as well as the effective use of library databases can help us reduce frustrations and increase

our chances for a successful, rewarding research experience.

By the time you complete this learning unit, you should have chosen a controversial topic. Remember

that you will research and write about this topic for the remainder of the course, so chose the topic

carefully.

Once you have chosen a topic and formulated your research question (see the “Topic Selection &

Narrowing a Topic” lecture for more instruction on topic selection), you are ready to dig into the

research process. The two main areas that we will focus on in this lecture will be how to conduct

academic research and how to use the library databases.

For most controversial topics, a student will be able to procure a myriad of sources. Let’s take the topic

of gun control. If a student typed “gun control” into the Google search engine, he would likely have

access to thousands upon thousands of websites, articles, books, etc. on the topic of gun control. Not

many of us have the time to read through 50,000 potential sources to determine their worth or their

potential application to our writing, though. Even more, we would need to consider how many of those

sources would be considered academic research.

In your previous classes, you’ve probably heard your professors discuss academic writing. It is a type of

writing that comes with a set of standards and expectations. In fact, most types of writing come with

standards and expectations. In academic writing, we work to use a professional tone; organize our ideas

in a coherent structure; focus on relevant, and important topics that are often related to a particular

field or discipline; and engage in a conversation with other scholars and professionals. The other

important characteristic of academic writing is that we must use academic research. This type of

research consists of reliable and authoritative sources. In other words, the sources are written by

authors with reputable credentials, and the discussions are relevant and recent. In addition, the

information provided by these authors should be supported and documented by research.

Be sure to carefully review the assigned reading in your handbook for an in-depth discussion of

academic research and evaluating sources. Knowing how to use and integrate this research into your

essays will be an integral part of your grade. Professors often penalize students’ grades when unreliable

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 2 of 4

research is used within research essays, as academia and the professional world tend to frown on

unreliable and/or outdated research.

When students attempt to locate academic research, they often ask, “Where do I find academic

sources?” The answer to this question is not always simple, as we can find academic sources in a variety

of places. We can find them though a Google search on the Internet; in the college library; and in

published newspapers, magazines, and journals. Another very useful place to find academic sources,

though, is through a college’s library databases.

Because research is an integral part of the academic landscape, academic institutions are committed to

providing their students with reliable, credible, and recent research. Thus, colleges pay to subscribe to

various databases. These databases provide students with a host of academic sources, and students can

usually access these sources with an Internet connection, either at home or on the college campus.

As a student of Indian Hills, you can access the databases on campus or from an alternative location, as

long as you have Internet connection and the database passwords (available on MyHills).

First, navigate to the Indian Hills homepage. At the bottom of the page, click on the “Library” link.

Once you are directed to the library’s page, scroll down and review all of the research resources that are

available to students. In particular, you may want to review the following documents:

 “Library Services”

 “Hours of Operation and Contact Information”

 “Research Tips”

 “Library Catalog”

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 3 of 4

 “ebooks”

 “Magazine and Journal Listing”

 “MLA Documentation of Electronic Resources”

 “Internet Resources”

 “Composition II Handout”

Once you have become familiar with these resources, scroll back to the top of the library’s page. Click on

“Library Databases.”

This link will take you to all of the databases subscribed to by Indian Hills Community College. As you

scroll through the names, read the descriptions of the databases. Depending upon your topic, some

databases may be more useful than others.

For Composition II, these tend to be frequently used databases:

 CQ Researcher

 EBSCO Periodical Index

 Electric Library

 LexisNexis Academic

 NewsBank

 Opposing Viewpoints

 SIRS

Each database is uniquely designed, so you will navigate each database differently. Pay attention to

instructions and search options, as these will help you find the sources relevant to your topic.

NOTE: When you are conducting research off-campus, you will need to use the database passwords. You

will not be able to gain access to the databases without these passwords. The passwords may be found

ENG 106: Composition II Learning Unit 2: Lecture

Page 4 of 4

in MyHills. To access them, go to your MyHills home page, look for the “My Services” content box on the

home page, and click on the “Library Database Passwords” button.

Again, be sure to carefully read the assigned reading in your handbook. This reading is full of helpful

research tips as well as information on how to evaluate sources. Solid research is a vital component of

research writing; thus, research carefully and thoroughly.

© Kameo Cragoe and Indian Hills Community College