CC2042 English for Academic Studies

RESEARCHING FOR RELEVANT INFORMATION

Knowing how and where to find information can improve your understanding of your
topic as well as help you find relevant supporting details for your research essay.

The aim of this session is to help you familiarise yourself with resources in the library
and on the Internet.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Develop an effective search strategy on their topic
• Navigate the CPCE Catalogue effectively
• Know where to start looking for relevant information on your topic
• Carry out searches on the Internet for relevant information on your topic
• Use all of the major databases held at CPCE Libraries
• Evaluate the authority and quality of Internet sources
• Feel confident in carrying out your own research

DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE SEARCH STRATEGY ON YOUR TOPIC

Computers are useful tools in helping you find information on a topic, but they only
retrieve information based on the keywords and terms that you type into the search
box.

Plan out your search by identifying your keywords and search terms, this can help
you retrieve books, articles and other information relevant to your research topic.

1. Develop a the search strategy in the table below:

Thesis Hong Kong’s waste treatment facilities are not adequate
in reducing environmental pollution.

Turn the thesis

into a question

Identify the AND

keywords

Write down OR
any synonyms
or related
terms

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USING THE CPCE ONLINE CATALOGUE

1. Use the online catalogue to search for the book Writing Analytically by David
Rosenwasser.
a) Which of the CPCE libraries can you find this book? _________________
b) Is this book part of the circulation collection? _________________
c) What year was the book published? _________________
d) Name the subjects covered in this book.
i) _______________________________________________
ii) _______________________________________________
iii) _______________________________________________
iv) ______________________________________________

2. What are the four fields that can be used in the advanced keyword search?
(HINT: Click the drop down menu)
i) _________________
ii) _________________
iii) _________________
iv) _________________

3. Search for keywords ‘English’ and ‘Academic’.

Limit this search by year 2000-2009 and availability at HHB campus only.
How many items are there in the library catalogue? _________________

4. Search for the title ‘Science as Culture’ in the serials collection.

a) Is this publication available in print?
______________________________________________
b) Which database can the electronic version be found?
______________________________________________

5. Search for the subject ‘English’ in the serials collection.

a) How many periodicals can be found under the subject heading ‘English’?
______________________________________________
b) List one of the periodicals found under the subject heading ‘English
Language--foreign countries--periodicals’.
______________________________________________

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LOCATING ITEMS IN THE LIBRARY

Most libraries use a classification and call number system to organise books and
other items found in the library. The call number is unique, like an address, it tells us
where the book/item is located in the library.

1. Which classification system do the CPCE libraries use?

_________________________________________________________________

2. What does a call number mean?

3. Match up the classification numbers with the correct subjects.

Call Number Subject

HD5343-5823 Electrical Engineering

PE1128 Computer Science

QA7-145 Personal Health and Hygiene

TK7800-7882 Business

QA75.5-QA76.9 English As a Second Language

RA773-788 Mathematics

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PERIODICALS (SERIALS)
Periodicals (from the word periodic, which means “at regular periods”) are
magazines, journals and newspapers. They often contain recent or very specialised
information about a subject, which may not be available in a book.

CPCE libraries subscribe to hundred of periodicals which you can access through
the major databases. You can use keywords to search quickly through hundreds of
journals, newspapers, current affairs and daily news programmes, reference
materials, dissertations and theses, and abstract and indexes. There are also print
copies of popular magazines and newspapers available in the library.

1. Which of the major databases would you use to search for Hong Kong newspaper
articles?
________________________________

2. Access the database you have identified in Q1. and choose ‘HK Headlines’.
Limit the dates between 1 September 2010 and 15 September 2010.
Write down the first headline listed in English.

______________________________________________________________

3. Through the CPCE website, access the ProQuest Science Journals Database.
Search for articles on ‘academic writing’.

a) Name three other suggested topics.

i. _________________________________________________
ii. _________________________________________________
iii. _________________________________________________

b) What is the total number of sources retrieved for this search?

i) How many scholarly journal documents are there? ____________
ii) How many magazine articles are there? ____________
iii) How many trade publication documents are there? ____________

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4. Download the articles listed below and complete the table:

Scholarly Journal: “Potential Air Emission Impacts of Cellulosic Ethanol
Production at Seven Demonstration Refineries in the United States”
Magazine Article: “Green Biz”

Journal Article Magazine Article

Is the article short or long?

Is the article written for scholarly or
general audience?
Does the periodical contain case-
studies, research reviews, and/or
bibliographies/references?
Does the periodical cover current
events, trends and practices?
Is the periodical published by a
professional organisation?
Which of these periodicals would be
best to find information for an indepth
research paper?
Why would this periodical be the best
choice to use?

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USING THE INTERNET

Using the Internet is a great way to find general information, opinions and
discussions on a subject. Search engines can help you find vast amounts of
information about any given topic. Learning to use them effectively can help you
save time on your searches and help you retrieve hits that are genuinely relevant to
your topic.
1. The table below shows some advanced search tips from google.com.
Which of the following will help you broaden or narrow your search?
Phrase search ("") you are telling Google to consider the exact
words in that exact order without any change.
Terms you want to exclude (-) attaching a minus sign immediately
before a word indicates that you do not want pages that contain this
word to appear in your results.
Fill in the blanks (*) If you include * within a query, it tells Google
to try to treat the star as a placeholder for any unknown term(s) and
then find the best matches.
Search exactly as is (+) you are telling Google to match that word
precisely as you typed it.
The OR operator If you want to specifically allow either one of
several words.
Source: Google.com

EVALUATING INTERNET SOURCES

The quality and reliability of information found on the Internet can vary widely.
Anyone with the know-how can create a website and post information there. Look
closely at website that you visit and evaluate the source carefully before using the
information from it.
1. Evaluate the two websites below:  
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ http://www.iwr.com/b
medlineplus/stress.html ecalmd/

Who are the authors?

Is site’s information current (within
two years)?
Is the information from an established
organisation?
Does the site’s information seem fair
and objective?
What is the purpose of this website?
(to inform, to persuade, to sell)
Is the information helpful?
Is the website well-organised?
Does the site appear reliable?

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TYPES OF INFORMATION: SELECTING SOURCES

1. If you need popular articles about new movies or social trends, what would you use?
a) Books
b) Magazines or the Web
c) Journals
d) Online Library Catalogue

2. If you were looking for scholarly articles on psychology, what source would you use?
a) Books
b) Magazines or the Web
c) Journals
d) Newspapers or the Web

3. If you wanted to find out what books and other materials the library owns on a
topic, you would use:
a) Books
b) Magazines
c) Journals
d) Online Library Catalogue

4. To find both expert and popular opinions, you would use:

a) The Web
b) Books
c) Journals
d) Online Library Catalogues

5. When you need to research a very current issue or topic, you would use:
a) Journals
b) Databases
c) Books
d) Encyclopedias

6. When you need to find general articles written for people who are not necessarily
specialists in a topic area, you would use:
a) Magazines
b) Books
c) Journals
d) Encyclopedias

7. To find out what materials a library owns on a topic and where a specific item is
located within the library, you would use:
a) Books
b) Magazines
c) Journals
d) Online Library Catalogue

Adapted from: http://depts.alverno.edu/cil/mod3/review1.html  

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