Library Research Paper Planner
    Print & use as often as necessary to plan your research

    Steps in the process:
    • Identify Resources Needed
    • Gather Information
    • Evaluate
    • Check-out/Copy
    • Use

    Due Date: _____________________________
    Interm. Due Dates: Draft: _____ Working bibliography: _____
      Other: _______________
    Course: ________________________________________
    Assignment/Tesis Statement:
    ___________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________

    Step 1: Identify Resources Needed
    Nature of assignment:
    _____ research paper
    _____ speech
    _____ very specific info like statistics
    _____ other: _____________________
    Length: number of page, minutes, etc.:
    ___________________________________________________________
    If specified by professor, how many of what kinds of library materials:
    ____ general books (Dixie Cat)
    ____ reference sources (Dixie Cat )
    ____ magazine articles (EbscoHost, Academic Universe, ProQuest, SIRS)
    ____ journal articles (Academic Universe, ProQuest, SIRS)
    ____ newspaper articles (ProQuest, Academic Universe online)
    ____ Internet (Use the Library Homepage's Internet)
    _____ other: _____________________

    Step 2: Gather

  • Books = Dixie Cat Online Catalog
  • Online sources = Library Research Links page

    • For each source you use, create a list of likely terms you are going to enter as subject and/or keywords. Record, print, or email your results.
    Keyword(s) ______________________________ Results (quantity): __________
    Keyword(s): _____________________________ Results (quantity): __________
    List problems you encounter that you will need to check with a librarian or your professor:
    ___________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________
    ___________________________________________________________

    Step 3: Evaluate
    Each book, article or other resource you plan to use needs to be evaluated to verify its quality and relevance to your topic. Use the criteria below to evaluate materials, both print and online, that you find in the library.

    Author
    Determine the author's credentials (education, experience, etc.) Is the author qualified to write with authority on this topic? Some of the sources listed below can help you evaluate an author's background and expertise in a subject.

    Print Sources:
    • Contemporary Authors
    • American Men and Women of Science
    • Who's Who
    • Online Sources:
    • Contemporary Authors
    • Biography and Genealogy Master Index
    Online Sources:
    • Wilson Biographies
    • EbscoHost

    Date of Publication
    Check the publication date of the book or article. Is it appropriate for the topic? Scientific information is updated frequently so research on scientific topics demands up-to-date information. Research in the humanities and social sciences is not as dependant on currency, and older materials can often be appropriate.

    Publisher
    Who is the publisher? Do you know them to be a reputable publisher of materials for your topic? It's unlikely that you are aware of this information and it's impossible to know the reputations of all publishers. In general, if the publisher is a university press, such as Oxford University Press, the source is scholarly. Other publishers have excellent reputations and are well known in certain disciplines. Where can you find information about publishers? Try looking at Literary Market Place, an annual directory of publishers. (Library of Congress Reference PN 161 .L5)

    Title of Journal
    It is essential to determine if the journal or magazine you are getting information from is scholarly, popular, or trade. The kind of journal reveals the level of research in article and the authority of the authors. Information about the type of journal you are looking at can be found at: Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals (Cornell University site) or go to the Reference Desk and check Magazines for Libraries by Katz.

    Intended Audience
    Who is the book or journal article written for? Other experts or scholars in the field? The general public? If you know the intended audience it can assist you in determining its appropriateness for your topic. Works written for the general population may not be sufficiently scholarly for your paper. However, if the audience is other experts in the field, you may have trouble following the discussion, especially if you don't have some prior knowledge about the topic. Consider if the intended audience of the source is right for your needs.

    Objectivity/Bias
    Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish sound research and logical arguments from propaganda. As you are reading, ask yourself if the assumptions the author makes are reasonable. Determine if the author has researched extensively in his/her field. Are the sources easily verified? It's also a good idea to look an author's choice of words. Some words and phrases provoke strong emotions and it's helpful to recognize when you are being subjected to propaganda or when an author is playing on emotions.

    Content
    Is this a primary or secondary source? Does the material provide background information or focus on a more specific aspect of the topic? Is the material comprehensive? What does this source add to what you already know about the topic? Is it an update of already established material in the field? Can you verify similar facts in other sources? Consulting a number of sources will give you a well-balanced view of the topic.

    Reviews
    Reviews that evaluate the material can help you in judging library materials. Other experts in the field or discipline usually write evaluative reviews of books and articles. They often mention other comparable works and give value judgements as to the worth of the book or article. Try the following sources for reviews:

    Print Sources:
    • Book Review Digest
    • Literary Criticism series
    Online Sources:
    • EbscoHost
    • ProQuest

    Step 4: Checkout/Copy
    When you have identified the sources you are going to use, the next step is to checkout the books and make copies of reference items or magazine articles. Many online databases offer print, download and/or email options.

    Step 5: USE
    Now you're ready to use the materials you've gathered for your project. Citing your sources is the way that you let people know where you found the information used in your paper and how they might find the same information. Taking credit for someone else's words, ideas, research, etc. is plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty. Just because something is on the web does not mean you can use it without citing it, just as you would not use information from a print source without properly citing that source. Academic dishonesty may result in getting a failing grade on the assignment, failing the entire course, and/or referring the student to the Student Affairs committee "which may reprimand, place on probation, suspend, and/or expel the student."

    Be sure to check the OWL (Online Writing Lab) for citation formats or check at the Reference Desk for style manuals. The Writing Center in the library provides help writing papers. Some online databases in the library contain citation formats. Plagiarism, or representing someone else's work as your own, can have serious consequences. Click here to learn how to avoid plagiarism.

    Getting Help in Using the Browning Library Resources
    You are not alone!

    Reference Desk (Main Floor) -- (435) 652-2081
    • assists with reference and research questions
    • provides assistance in using library resources, including online databases and the Internet

    Electronic Reference via the Library Home Page:
    • go to http://library.dixie.edu/help
    • click on Ask a Librarian
    • fill out the form and submit - questions are answered as resources permit

    Online Research Guides:
    • http://library.dixie.edu/library includes specific subject areas with both library and online resources

    Requesting Materials Not Held by Browning Library:

      Books: Get an Interlibrary Loan form from the Circulation Desk, fill it out, and turn into Interlibrary Loan Office (Room 112)

      Articles: From the Home Page (library.dixie.edu/library), click on "Research Links", then " Utah Article Delivery". Complete and submit the form. Allow at least 2 working days for requests to be filled. If you do not have a fax machine, the articles are sent to the library Interlibrary Loan office (Room 112) and you may pick them up there.

      Note: This service is only for faculty, staff and registered students of Dixie College and is for articles not found in our library. If you are not sure whether the library has the article, please check with a reference librarian.

    Circulation/Reserve Desk (Main Floor) -- (435) 652-7714
    • provides materials check-out/check-in; includes Course Reserve
    • answers questions specific to checkout policies, e.g. renewals, recalls, overdues, etc.

    Library Instruction & Orientation (Main Floor, Director's Office) -- (435) 652-7711 or email snyder@dixie.edu
    • provides formal instructional sessions to class groups, tailoring instruction to specific assignments/student needs