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Library Resources and Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
- Secondary sources analyze, review, or restate information in primary resources. Most journal articles are secondary sources because they provide analysis, interpretation, or evaluation.
Examples of Secondary Sources
- Dictionaries
- Encyclopedias
- Books that interpret, provide criticism, or review research works
- Articles the interpret, provide criticism, or review research works
Picking a Topic
- Selecting a topic for a research paper or project can be very challenging. Try some of these tips to make the process easier.
- select a topic that is of interest to you.
- browse shelves for books (guide to call number subject areas)
- read articles in encyclopedias or subject-specific dictionaries for ideas and direction in the REFERENCE SECTION (located on the 3rd floor)
- state your research topic
- keep list of keywords that define your topic
- think about significant terms and keywords to use as you search
- Always start with a broad topic. It is easier to eliminate information as you write than it is to try an bulk up your paper
| Suggested Reference Sources: | ||
| American Popular Culture Through History |
Ref E169.1... | This volume is one of 17 in the series, each of which presents essays on Everyday America, The World of Youth, Advertising, Architecture, Fashion, Food, Leisure Activities, Literature, Music, Performing Arts, Travel, and Visual Arts. |
|
American Decades |
Ref E169.1.A471977 |
Each volume of American Decades Primary Sources includes approximately 200 full or excerpted primary sources in 160-170 entries from the period representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements and events from the decade. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author, further resources, and more than 250 photos and illustrations. chapters on the arts, medicine and health, media, education, world events, religion, government and politics, lifestyles and social trends, law and justice, religion, business and the economy, and sports. (*Note: this includes primary source material) |
|
Fifties in America |
Ref E169.12.F498 2005 |
A 3-volume set which contains alphabetic entries on topics that include movies, movie stars, presidents, politics, international affairs, bomb tests, styles, fads, music, and television. Each entry begins with a definition, date, location (when pertinent) initial brief overview, and concludes with a short annotated bibliography. |
|
Twenties in America: Politics and History |
Ref E 784 .P35 2006 | The Twenties in America offers the first balanced account of the history and politics of this much-maligned decade. Niall Palmer focuses on the governing styles and political philosophies of presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. He suggests that Harding's executive style and achievements were not as poor as traditional portraits have claimed and that Coolidge was largely successful in his efforts to distance himself from the financial scandals of his predecessor, reviving much of the US economy. Palmer argues that the pace of social and technological change created conflicts over race, religion, and poverty, and employment rights. Consequently, old solutions became increasingly irrelevant to the changing times. |
|
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture |
Online | With its emphasis on ideas, people, events and products that symbolize America, the 5-vol. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture is a cross-curriculum resource that will find use among a wide variety of users. Major topics include: television, movies, theater, art, books, magazines, radio, music, sports, fashion, health, politics, trends, community life and advertising. |
|
Encyclopedia of American Studies |
Ref E169.1.E625 | At the core of the Encyclopedia of American Studies database are approximately 680 individual articles covering various aspects of American culture, both historical and contemporary; from gospel music to hip-hop, literature to reality television, the Civil War to September 11, 2001. Each article provides direct links to annotated Web sites, bibliographies, and related articles. |
Finding Books
Find Books at our library
- Catalog:use this link to find Books, government documents, reserve items, music, movies and journal titles (NOT JOURNAL ARTICLES) in our library
- Search the catalog using keywords to find materials
- Write out a few keywords on your topics and enter them into the search box.
- Don't write out a sentence. You will get zero results.
- For Example: I am writing a paper on fashion during the 1920s
- my search might be: fashion 1920s
- use the Subjects etc...to find more books on a specific subject
Find Books at other NJ Academic libaries
- Catalog: use this link to locate material at other NJ academic libraries. Use Interlibrary Loan to get the material you find or drive to local schools and pick up the book.
Finding Articles
- These databases are for finding journal articles
- They are available 24/7 ONLY to Ramapo students
- Off campus use requires login: Ramapo email and password
- Some useful Databases for your projects:
| General Databases |
|
| Academic Search Premier |
A multi-disciplinary database containing both full-text articles and citations. Tip: When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection. |
| Expanded Academic |
Another multidisplinary database that contains many full-text articles. Tip: If your search results include citations or abstracts (not full-text articles), click on the Check availability link within each citation to see if you have access to the journal being cited. |
| Wilson Omnifile Mega Full-Text |
Over 4,000 journals. Coverage back as early as 1982 ensures that every search is as deep as it is broad. Users have access to information on virtually any subject. |
| History Databases | |
|
America: History and Life (abc-clio)
America: History and Life (Ebsco) |
History of the United States and Canada from pre-history to the present.
Tip:(ABC-Clio version) Links to JSTOR and Ebsco. When only a citation is included, click on the "Primary Catalog" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Tip:(Ebsco version) When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection. |
|
Historical Abstracts (abc-clio)
Historical Abstracts (Ebsco)
|
Tip:(ABC-Clio version) Links to JSTOR and Ebsco. When only a citation is included, click on the "Primary Catalog" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection.
Tip:(Ebsco version) When only a citation is included, click on the "Check availability at Ramapo" link to see if the full text of the article is available in our collection. |
| JSTOR |
Tip: entirely full-text. Cannot email articles-email yourself the stable url. Do not print from browser print button. Use the JSTOR print option |
| African American Studies Center | Includes bibliographies, interactive timelines and maps, thematic photo essays and image collections, key primary source documents, and editorially selected links to Internet resources. |
| Others | |
| Biographies Plus |
With coverage of newsmakers and figures of prominence from a wide range of fields Tip: entirely full-text |
| Gender Watch |
full text database of unique and diverse publications that focus on how gender impacts a broad spectrum of subject areas. Tip: Use the "Suggested Topics" box at the top of the results page to help find better search terms |
| Ethnic News Watch |
A comprehensive full text database of the newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press Tip: Use the "Suggested Topics" box at the top of the results page to help find better search terms |
| Literature Resource Center | Provides access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of authors from every age and literary discipline. |
Strategies for searching the databases
- Always go back and revise your searches! Look at using different terms and synonyms.
- Always switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
- Always use Boolean Operators-AND, OR, NOT when running a search. For Example: "world war II" and women and (jobs or work)
- AND: narrows your search ex: women and "world war II"
- OR: broadens your search ex: (united states or america) and (world war II or wwII or world war 1939-1945)
- NOT: eliminates ex: "Nazi Germany" not "Wiemar republic"
- Always check your Spelling if the database results are Zero.
- To look for full-text use the: check availablity at Ramapo, primary catalog, or check availability links in the databases
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Use the Subject Terms or Thesaurus link in databases to find the best search terms to use
Use interlibrary loan
- Use Interlibrary Loan if we don't have a book or article that you need
- Fill out the online form using your Ramapo Email (it will not be processed without that email address)
- WARNING: give yourself time (it can take longer than 2 weeks in some cases)
Find specific journals in the library
- Use the Journal Finder to locate the full-text of journals in our library. These can be either online or in print.
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