Speech 132: Small Group Communication

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The library has several general resources that may be used to help you determine a topic for your research.  These resources will also provide background information on you topic. There are both print and library Internet resource available for the purposes of topic selection and gathering background information.  General and subject specific encyclopedias provide a good starting point for your research.  These resources introduce you to the topic and may provide a bibliography that can be used for further research.  Listed below are a few Reference Books that may be useful in your research.  There are many other available that cover a wide variety of topics.

The Social Science Encyclopedia
     REF G41 .S63 1996

Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior
     REF HV5804 .E53 2001

Survey of Social Science: Sociology Series
     REF HM17 .S86 1994

Encyclopedia of American Education
     REF LB17 .U54 1996

Violence in America
    REF HN90 .V5V474 1999

Encyclopedia of Mental Health
    REF RA790 .S53 1998

In addition to Reference Books, there are print series that focus on current and/or controversial issues. These provide overview and background information and are useful as you research your topic.

Facts.com is a library Internet resource that provides online access to Issues and Controversies, an encyclopedia, almanac, and other resources.

Once you have gathered your background information, you will be ready to conduct more in-depth research using books, periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers), and the Internet.

The Library Catalog is used to find books available in this library. You may find books that provide a broad overview, and others that give more in-depth information. Your research on your topic will most often be done using subject or keyword search techniques. This library uses the Library of Congress (LC) subject headings. These subject headings are very specific and printed in set of books located in the Reference Area of the library. Keyword searches allow you to use words that are associated with your topic. Subject searches will bring more direct results. Keyword searches are best used when you are unfamiliar with the LC subject headings.

Magazine, journal, and newspaper articles usually provide the most current information on you topic. Magazine articles tend to be broader in coverage and shorter in length than are journal articles. Journals will provide a more scholarly or professional treatment of a topic. Newspaper articles will give you the most up-to-date information on your topic and may be presented as a feature, commentary or editorial. There are indexes in both print and online formats to assist your research.

Online Indexes
Available at http://www.cerritos.edu/library/http://www.cerritos.edu/library/e-resources.html

EbscoHost
Facts.com
NewsBank
GenderWatch
Ethnic NewsWatch
GaleNet
RAND California

Print Indexes
Located behind the Reference Desk

Education Index
Humanities Index
Los Angeles Times Index
Readers’Guide to Periodical Literature
Social Science Index

Remember!  The librarians are here to assist you with your research. If you have any questions or encounter difficulty at any point in your search for information, please stop at the Library Reference Desk for assistance.

VM 09/10/01, LG REV 1/02