Writing 121: Bustamante

Instructor: Kathleen Bustamante kathleen.bustamante@pcc.edu	Ask a Librarian!
Librarian: Allie Flanary allinee.flanary@pcc.edu	503/977.4500 Sylvania 503/614.7239 Rock Creek 503/978.5269 Cascade

Assignment

There are some things you should be thinking about long before you start looking for sources.

Are you clear on your assignment? If not, you should be talking to your instructor.
- In short, write a research paper.
  - It is almost guaranteed that you will write better and become less frustrated with the research process if you pick a topic that is personally interesting to you.
  - Avoid topics that really push your buttons. You want to feel passionate about your topic but not to the extent that you're distracted by your own thoughts and emotions.
- Select at least 4 sources that are relevant, scholarly, and appropriate to the topic.
  - Avoid blogs and personal (non-professional) websites.
- Use MLA format to cite sources and develop the Works Cited page.

Database Search Tips

Databases are really literal. So if you type issues with dysfunctional families in the United States of America the database will attempt to find articles matching that entire phrase. Instead, try typing dysfunction in one search box and family in another search box. Let the database help you further narrow the search.

Remember the full-text box. Otherwise you might find a lot of summaries but no actual articles.

Internet for Free vs. Internet for Fee (you get what you pay for)

Although websites and databases are both electronic resources, the quality of information you get from each can vary wildly.

Google is a great place to find a local plumber but you'll probably have no idea whether that plumber is timely, cheap, or does good work.

Library databases, on the other hand, are useful because all of the information contained within a database has already been checked for quality and authority (well-researched).

There is also great information available for free on the Internet, it just takes a little more work to use it. This Website evaluation checklist will help you to think critically about the information you find on the Internet and whether or not it is useful.

Remember that Google Scholar works pretty much just like Google with the added bonus of only searching scholarly resources.

MLA Citation

Why do we cite our sources? The obvious reason is so that you don't plagiarize and wind up expelled from PCC.. The other reasons may seem less obvious but are really important.

Citations tell your reader (who is often your instructor) that you care about your work. You've been thinking critically, evaluating sources, and culling your list of resources from the best there is. Why not get credit for that?
Citations are something you give your reader out of courtesy. How frustrating is it when you read an article that mentions something really cool but doesn't tell you how to find it? Providing your reader with citations is like saying, "Here, I invite you to learn more."
When you write scholarly papers you are engaged in a conversation with the researchers who came before you as well as those who may come after. Failure to cite your sources is plagiarism, but it's also a lot like cutting yourself off in the middle of speaking. Who wants to be involved in that conversation?
By showing the legacy of thought and research that has gone into your work you help to highlight the quality and validity of your own writing.
People take your writing more seriously. Amongst scholars citations are a sign of authority.

Citation Help

How to Cite Your Sources from PCC Library
MLA STYLE: ENGLISH AND OTHER HUMANITIES. Hacker, Diana.
- Make sure to take a look at the sample research papers and Works Cited list.
MLA Documentation from the Everyday Writer
MLA Style from University of North Carolina
- See the 'detail' section of individual citations for a great visual aid to understanding MLA

Citation Generators
Remember that citation generators not magic and are sometimes incorrect! It's always a good idea to verify your citation formats in the official manual or another trusted source.

MLA Citation Maker from Oregon School Library Information System
EasyBib
Citation Machine

Handouts & Help

Want more help with a particular database? Lost your handout? Try these: