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American Language & Culture Institute (ALCI)

The purpose of this guide is support the research of ALCI Writing 4B students.

 

Getting Started

Identify major ideas related to your topic. Ask yourself: who, what, where, when, why/how?

Who? Is there a group of people (e.g. race, ethnicity, age group) you want to focus on?
What? What do you want know about this topic?
Where? Do you want to focus on a location (e.g. country, neighborhood, schools)?
When? Are you looking at a specific time period (e.g. contemporary, before World War I)?
Why/How? Why or how is this topic happening?
 

 

Websites

Learn how to evaluate a website before choosing to include a website in your research project.

Advanced search tips for Google:

  "exact phrase" ~similar words
 
  OR between multiple words/synonyms —exclude words
 
  site: within a site or domain type author: specific author
 
  filetype: pdf, doc, ppt allintitle: words in title
 
  related: similar websites link: who links to specific site
 

Website Checklist pdf
 


Topics
 

(Mac OR Apple) AND (Microsoft OR Windows) AND (comput* OR "operating system")

(solar OR wind OR renewable OR alternative) AND (energy)

(running OR jogging) AND (indoor OR treadmill OR outdoor OR marathon OR training)

("artificial intelligence" OR "AI" OR "computer simulation") AND ("human information processing" OR cognit* OR brain)

("automobile industry" OR "steel industry" OR "iron industry" OR "iron and steel") AND (Chicago OR Detroit)

(computers OR technology) AND (histor* OR development* OR innovat*)
 

 

Books

 Library Catalog --for books, media (DVDs, VHS, CDs), periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers) at CSUSM.
          Map to find library materials
The Circuit --for books from local libraries (delivered to our check out desk in 1-2 days).

 

 Newspapers and Magazines

Research databases search thousands of scholarly and non-scholarly articles.

The following have mostly non-scholarly popular press, typically newspapers and magazines.
     
          ProQuest Newspapers

          Lexis Nexis Academic 

          Factiva 

          Ethnic NewsWatch for alternative, bilingual, and small press publications


 


Journal Articles

Choose a database by subject


See an article you want in one of these databases?

  1. Look for "Full Text" in pdf PDF, HTML Full TextHTML, Linked Full TextLinked or  Check SFX for Availability
  2. Fill out an Interlibrary Loan article request form. You'll get it within 5-10 days for FREE.
  3. Any time you need help, ask a librarian.



 

Bibliography

What is academic honesty?

According to the CSUSM University Catalog pdf, academic honesty is the responsibility of each student.

Academic dishonesty diminishes the integrity and quality of your college education. In addition to failing an assignment or class, violations can result in warning, probation, suspension, and expulsion.

As you write your paper, you'll need to cite quotations and ideas from the sources you've found.

Book Cover

 

 

MLA [Modern Language Association] handbook for writers of research papers.

KnightCite: Free citation formatting-- review the results for accuracy.

When you use your own words:

  • According to Brown, blah blah blah (4).

  • Blah blah blah (Brown 4).

When you use a direct quote:

  • According to Smith and Lopez, "direct quote copy and pasted" (12).

  • "Direct quote copy and pasted" (Smith and Lopez 12).

 

Resources