Researching a Term Paper

This guide discusses five basic steps to take when researching an undergraduate term paper in the UWM Libraries. Basic books can be of general assistance for contemporary searching; an example is What every student should know about researching online, ZA 4228 .M86 2007.

  1. Identify keywords and subject headings that describe the topic.
  2. Use PantherCat to locate books and other materials (see the RIS guide on searching PantherCat).
  3. Use indexes to find periodical articles.
  4. Evaluate the materials found.
  5. Cite all sources.

1. Identify keywords and subject headings that describe the topic.

Subject headings vs. Keywords
Subject headings are “official” headings used to describe a concept. Verify these using the subject headings book, Library of Congress Subject Headings (REF) Z 695 .L6952x.
Example: The subject heading “Cats” refers only to domestic cats, whereas the subject heading “Felidae” will refer to items about panthers, lynx, and cheetahs. The subject headings “Mars (planet)” and “Mars (Roman deity)” refer to two very different subjects.
Keywords and phrases are less exact than subject headings. There is no official list of keywords. There are many different words that could possibly be used to describe a concept.
Example: Children, kids, youngsters, juveniles, adolescents, teenagers, boys and girls, and youth are words that could all be used to find items about young people.
  1. Refer to a course textbook.     Chapter titles, section headings, and the index often provide good keywords.

  2. Read an encyclopedia article.     A broad overview of a subject is often valuable in clarifying ideas and research questions (see the RIS guide "Subject Encyclopedias").

  3. Utilize bibliographies.     Note any useful sources such as books, journals, articles, etc., that are listed in the bibliography at the end of encyclopedia articles, dictionary entries, textbook chapters, and relevant articles. The sources cited in the bibliography may provide good leads to further research.

  4. Search the titles of known books or journals in PantherCat or an appropriate periodical index. Look at the subject headings in these entries (see sections 2 and 3 below for more details.)

2. Use PantherCat to locate books and other materials.

Refer also to the RIS guide on searching the catalog, PantherCat.
It is often helpful to begin with a keyword search. Then follow subject links found in entries that are of interest. Searching the phrase “child labor” in the keyword search provides the example catalog entry below. To find an item in the UWM Libraries, copy the call number and location from the catalog entry.

Clicking one of these subjects leads to more items that share the same subject heading.
Copy both the location and call number. These are needed to find an item in the UWM Libraries. Note the location. The book is located in the main
collection following the "Floor Key." Other locations include the Reference collection, Special Collections, Curriculum Library, Music Library, and so on. Check the library directories near the elevators and stairs. The status will tell whether the book is checked out by another patron. Use the RECALL/REQUEST button to put a hold on a book checked out or use the UW SYSTEM SEARCH to request the item from another University of Wisconsin System library.

3. Use indexes to find periodical articles.

Periodicals versus Indexes

Periodicals are continuing publications such as newspapers, magazines, or scholarly journals. They are usually issued on a regular basis, that is, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Search PantherCat to find the call numbers and holdings of periodicals which the UWM Libraries carry, and check the electronic journals list (using the Citation Linker) for journals available full text via a database (see the RIS guide "Finding Periodicals in the UWM Libraries"). Use periodical indexes to identify articles contained in the journals.

Indexes and abstracts contain information about articles found in periodicals. Search for articles about the topic by keyword, subject, author, or title. The results of a search will show the titles of articles, the author, the periodical where the article is found, and other information needed to locate the original article. Many indexes contain summaries of articles. Some electronic indexes (databases) contain the full text of the article that can be emailed, saved to a disk, or printed.

  1. Choose an index or database.
    An alphabetical list of electronic indexes and databases is available by clicking the “Databases A-Z” link from the library home page under “Find Articles.” To see the databases grouped by subject, select from the categories under “Databases by Subject/Major.” After selecting an online index, refer to the printed guides available in the RIS Room or from the UWM Libraries homepage to learn basic search guidelnes for that database, or use the online help in the specific database.
    While more and more indexes are available online, for some topics, a print index may be the most appropriate. See the RIS guide "Periodical Indexes and Abstracts” or ask at the RIS Information Desk.

  2. Note the citation, or source information, of relevant articles.
    The citation is needed for two reasons: to locate the specific article and to write the bibliography. Below is an example of an article found using Academic Search, a general index of journals and newspapers.
    Record the complete information for the title, author, and source (including volume number, date and pages). Not all citations will have an author.

  3. Determine whether the library has the periodical.

    • To determine if the UWM Libraries own a specific journal or source cited in the results list or has the full text of the journal available in another online resource, click at the bottom of the citaiton. If the article is available in the database used, a link to the full text will be in the entry.
    • If the journal is available full text in an online resource, select the database of choice from the options given and follow the instructions to locate the article.
    • If the journal is not available full text in an online resource, follow the link to the UWM Libraries to check for print holdings. Locate the call number and holdings in the PantherCat record. The title of the JOURNAL, not the article, should be searched for, using the Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Title option from the "Search by" menu.
    • If a title does not appear in the libraries' catalog nor is available full text online, request the journals through Interlibrary Loan.

    4. Evaluate the materials found.

    Not all materials found will provide appropriate or useful information. Many leads can be eliminated before actually locating the item.
    1. Author/organization
      What are the author’s credentials or affiliations?
      Was he/she mentioned by a professor, in a class text, or cited frequently in class readings?
      Is the organization reputable?
      Is the organization or author known to be biased?

    2. Publication date or edition
      Is a recent publication date of consequence to the research topic in question?
      Is there a newer edition that may have more up-to-date information?

    3. Periodical type
      Is this type of publication appropriate for this research topic?

      Types of Periodicals
      Scholarly journals: Articles found in scholarly journals are written by researchers or those who have done research in a specific field. Articles are often “refereed” or "peer reviewed," that is, the contents are judged by experts in the field to be worthy of publication. These journals are often published by professional organizations or are associated with academic institutions, e.g., Journal of the Royal Music Association, Journal of Applied Linguistics. Articles often include footnotes and bibliographies.
      Popular/General Interest: Because of their commercial nature, these tend to have a glossier format than scholarly journals. Articles in periodicals such as Scientific American or the Wall Street Journal may require some degree of academic knowledge or background. Others such as Rolling Stone Magazine, People, and Self contain articles at a reading level accessible to the layperson and provide general information. Sources of information are less likely to be cited in footnotes and bibliographies. These publications are less likely to be carried by an academic institution.
    4. Bibliographies/Citations
      Are the sources of information cited?
      Does the bibliography lead to other relevant materials for this term paper?

    5. Objectivity
      Is the organization or author clearly biased?
      Does the author attempt to present a variety of viewpoints?
      Is there an attempt to distinguish fact from opinion?

    6. Supporting evidence
      Are facts supported by research?
      Does the author offer ample evidence to support opinions?

    7. Relevance
      Does this article update, support, or add new information to the materials in hand so far?

    5. Cite all sources.

    Citation formats may vary. The most common formats are the MLA, APA, Chicago Manual of Style, or "Turabian" style manuals. Ask the professor for the preferred choice. For basic information and information on style manuals, see the RIS guide “Quick Guide to Preparing a Bibliography.” Check the list available from the UWM Libraries homepage, Citation Style Manuals & Writing Centers, for additional sites of value.

     

    JE/LB 6 November 2002; mod 4/14/2008

    UWM Libraries Home * PantherCat

    UWM Libraries Staff
    page contact: Linda Brothen