Picking a Topic

• Selecting a topic for a research paper or project can be very challenging. You'll want to select a topic that is of interest to you. This will make the research, reading and writing less of a chore. (TIP: Start with a broad topic. It's easier to eliminate information as you write than it is to start with too little.) It's a good idea to wait to decide on a topic until you do some preliminary searching for books, articles, and web-based resources. If you can't find enough material, you will want the flexibility to select a new topic. A great way to begin your preliminary research is to browse the REFERENCE SECTION in the library (located on the 3rd floor).

Suggested Reference Material:

TIP: Use the bibliographies at the end of articles, books, encyclopedias, and dictinaries to locate more material on your topic.

Finding Books

• Catalog:use this link to find Books, government documents, reserve items, music, movies and journal titles (NOT JOURNAL ARTICLES) in our library.

  • Use the Basic Search to find material using Keywords

    • For example: search for "political campaigns" or campaigns and funding to locate a broad range of materials the library has on these keywords
    • When you find an appropriate title, click on the Subjects, etc. tab located at the top of a catalog record to see which Library of Congress subject headings are discussed in that particular book/DVD/periodical

    OR

  • Search the catalog using Subject Browse feature if you know the relevant Library of Congress subject heading

  • For example:

    • Political statistics
    • Comparative government--Methodology
    • Public institutions
    • Local Elections--New Jersey
    • Election law
    • Elections--Corrupt practices

OR

• Go to Advanced Search
  • The Boolean search terms are built in for your use:
    • AND: you're commanding the system to search for material on both terms you've entered
    • OR: you're commanding the system to search for meaterial on either of the search terms you have entered
    • NOT: you're commanding the system to search for material on the first term you have entered and to exclude any material on the second term you have entered
  • The catalog system will provide morre focused results

 

For Example: I'm writing a paper on campaigns and debates.

My FIRST search might be: campaigns and debates

DON'T STOP here! Revise your searches and use the results to find other material

Revised Search: I want to focus on television coupled with political campaigns.

My NEXT search: television in campaigns.

   Tips

1. Start with broad searches. It's much easier to discard too much rather than start with too little.
2. If you don't know the Subject Heading, use the Subjects, etc. tab located on the top of a catalog record to get to the headings. This will help you focus in on more relevant material.
3. You can "virtually" browse the shelves by clicking on the call number in a record.
4. Give yourself time!

• Finding online documents and books in our catalog

• Documents Without Shelves Collection: Online access to U.S. documents and books via the online catalog

  • To limit your search to this collection, go to More Limits (right-hand side of the screen) and scroll down the Location Bar to select Documents Without Shelves
  • This collection includes U.S. Government publications ranging from one-page reports to 300-page books
  • Books will be accessible by chapter or section
  • Tip Don't click on print until you're sure of what you're printing!

   

• To locate all online material, such as e-books, Documents Without Shelves titles, and databases, Scroll down the Quick limit menu (left-hand side of screen) to select Online material, and enter your search term.

• Finding books at other NJ academic libaries

• VALE 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

• The 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:

Strategies for searching the databases:

• Go back and revise your searches! Use different terms and synonyms.
• Switch to the Advance Search page in a database. This will give you more control over your results.
• Use Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) when running a search. For Example: Political debates and "Presidential campaigns"
  • AND: narrows your search. e.g., political debates and presidential campaigns
  • OR: broadens your search. e.g., television or radio and political debates
  • NOT: eliminates the second term. e.g., Television not radio
• Always check your spelling if the catalog or database results are zero
• To look for full-text use the check availablity at Ramapo, primary catalog, or check availability links in the databases
• Use the Subject Terms or Thesaurus link in databases to find the best search (or descriptor) terms to use
• Limit or filter searches to scholarly, peer-reviewed, academic, or refereed articles. These articles are found in journals which have been reviewed by a board of experts: peer reviewed. The database generally has an option for specifying this limit. If it doesn't, you can check to see if an article is coming from a peer-reviewed publication by checking in Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory. 

Using Interlibrary Loan

• Use Interlibrary Loan if we don't have a book or article that you need
  • Keep in mind that books can take 2-3 weeks to get to Ramapo, and articles may take several days or longer to arrive

• Fill out the online form using your Ramapo Email address--it won't be processed without it! 

Finding 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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