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Communication 101 - Library Connections

The Undergraduate Library's website contains numerous pages that will be helpful to you as you complete assignments for Communication 101. The information and links provided below are tied into specific assignments and sections of your course manual. 

2.1 Preparing Round II

Selecting a thesis

Choosing a Topic http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/topic.html
Suggestions for choosing and focusing a topic.

Narrowing a thesis

Building a Search Strategy: Developing Your Topic http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/developing.html
The hows and whys of planning a search strategy for you topic: using questions, identifying keywords, and more.

You can print a copy of the Concept Map to use to help you define your topic and plan your search.

2.2 Locating and selecting good supporting material

The Undergraduate Library's website provides good options as you begin searching for information.

Choosing a database can be simplified by starting with the Undergraduate Library's Find Articles Guide. The databases Academic Search Premier and Academic OneFile, listed at the top of this page under Starting Points, are great places to begin your search.

Please note: The databases listed on p. 78 in the course manual have changed, so beginning with the Find Articles Guide will help you locate appropriate databases to begin your information search.

The Library Online Catalog will help you locate books about your topic.
These Help pages will assist you as you search for information in the Online Catalog.

Reference sources are great sources for getting started finding information on your topic. The Electronic Reference Guide provides links to numerous online versions of print reference sources provided by the library.

The following pages will also help you as you begin to search for supporting material for your speech.

Use databases to find information http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/how.html#database

How Databases and Search Engines Differ http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/compare1.html
An quick explanation to help understand the differences between library subscription databases, like those available via the Find Articles Guide and free search engines, such as Google.

Evaluate credibility of sources

Is it scholarly? General tips for evaluating sources http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/scholarly.html
Guidelines for evaluating resources of multiple types.

Evaluating Internet Sources http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/webeval.html
This page provides guidelines to assist you in evaluating pages you locate via search engines such as Google.

Finding Specific Kinds of Information

The following pages will assist you as you look to find particular kinds of information. The suggestions on these pages include both strategies and likely resources for finding information.

Guide to Finding Editorials http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/editorials.html

Guide to Finding Pro/Con Arguments http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/howdoi/procon.html

Guide to Finding Statistics http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/find/findstatistics.html

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