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Choosing your topic

As you may already have discovered this is often the hardest step in the research paper writing process. It is also a very important step. If you choose a topic that is very broad - "Poverty" - you will be over whelmed with information and you will have difficulty organizing your ideas and findings into a manageable, cohesive paper. If you choose a topic that is very narrow - "Gifted Children Living in Poverty Benefit From Having Pet Fish" - obviously, you will have trouble finding enough information sources to support your paper. Take time to focus your topic. If you can, try to choose a topic that truly interests you. The tables of contents and indexes of some of the general social science resources are good places to look for ideas (this also gives you an idea about the availability of information); some of these resources are listed below.

CQ Researcher REF H35 .E35 The CQ Researcher provides weekly briefings on social, political, economic, international, and scientific trends and issues. Each report provides an overview, pros & cons, stats & graphs, and a bibliography for leads to related resources. The index to this resource is located in the current issues binder (it's blue). CQ Researcher is also available in electronic form from the Library Workstations. *CQ Researcher is also available electronically through the "Remote Access Databases" link on the PCC Library Web Site - anytime/anywhere.
Statistical Abstract of the United States REF HA202 .A35 1999 (back to 1950's) Summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Compare education, income, teen-pregnancies...for different race groups, states, economic levels...
Taking Sides REF H33 .T3997 This multi-volume (the last volume is the index) set is great for research ideas, background information, pros & cons, and leads for further research
The Social Science Encyclopedia REF H41 .S63 1996 A one volume resource - good for general background information and definitions.

There are many books in the Circulating Collection that will get you well on your way to uncovering some interesting and valid research. Remember, if you find a really great source, check the sources they used. Most books that include research information will include footnotes and a bibliography. Check the index of the books you find some may have specific sections dedicated to economic considerations.

Also, take a closer look at the LINCCSearch catalog record for books you find valuable. The catalog record will list the subject descriptors used by the cataloger to describe this book. You can use them to find similar books - the descriptors are even hypertext so you can link directly to books under that heading.

By the way, have you used LINCCSearch lately? It changed a bit this year. If you haven't used it this term take a minute to play with the new features - and remember, you can search for books at the Winter Haven, Lakeland and any Florida Community College (and other library materials as well) on your home computer, in the TLCCs or any where you find Internet access.

This is the Basic Search screen for LINCCSearch
When your feeling really frisky try the expanded search

The library has quite a few series that deal with social issues.
Take a look at the Opposing View Points, Turning Point, or Current Controversies series.
You can search for these series by putting the series name in the search field and searching by title.

Here are some examples of titles you'll find at PCC.
If you don't find anything on your topic - ASK THE LIBRARIAN .
They like to feel needed, and they would like to know what areas need more fortification.

 

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Sexual Harassment (click here for information about this book title)

Death Penalty

Does Capital Punishment Deter Crime? (click here for information about this book title)

Capital Punishment (click here for information about this book title)

Legality of Abortion

Abortion Controversy (click here for information about this book title)

You may already have some articles in mind that you want to get because you were paying attention and looked at the bibliographies and footnotes in the books and reference sources that you found before, or because you found some great articles in the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature or in the New York Times Indexes, (The green and red indexes on the 1st shelf in Reference) or maybe you have nothing yet - not because you didn't look at the suggested bibliographies and footnotes and such, but because you chose a very tricky topic that will require extra researching - right?

To find articles in newspapers, magazines, and journals you can use a print index tool or an electronic indexing tool (a database). I suppose you could try your luck and just browse the shelves and hope a great and relevant article falls on your head, but that would take a very long time and I'm sure you have better things to do.

Print Indexes - don't let them scare you.
(you may appreciate them one day when the Internet Connection is down)

The print indexes are fairly simple to use
(you can even read the page or two of instructions at the beginning of the indexes if your really want a clue)

1. Pick the year you want to search

2. Look for your topic in the alphabetically arranged index

3. Copy down the complete citation information

Sometimes you get redirected because what you may call "guns" they may call "fire arms" but basically it works out. The most important thing to remember about using the print indexes is to write down all the information completely (or make a copy if you like).

By using the print indexes you are able to get a feel for the subject headings (future search terms) that are used for your topic.

Another nice thing about the print indexes is they go back many years; the electronic resources are working on that, but generally they go back 5 or 10 years tops. If you have found some recent articles using the print indexes you may be able to find them and print them out for free - by using on of PCC's electronic resources.

Electronic Indexes
(Faster, stronger, smarter - well, maybe sometimes)

The PCC Libraries have many electronic resources (databases) that will let you search for newspaper, magazine, and journal articles by just about any subject. You can also search by author, date or source of publication. They all work in a similar fashion, like the LINCCSearch online catalog (which is just another database - it's just that it is for books, not articles) there is usually a box where you type in what-ever it is that you are looking for (you can adjust the dates or sources if you like) and then you click on search and the clever thing gives you a list of compatible results - it's kind of like computer dating only the computer is matching you to an article not your future spouse.

Where are they?

You can access many of the PCC Library databases through the
PCC Library Web Site: http://www.polk.cc.fl.us/it/library

Where to begin? Which resource to Choose?
Some of PCC's electronic resources only index articles
(you'll get a citation like you did in the Reader's Guide to Periodical literature, and then you have to go fetch the article yourself).
Some resources will index the articles and provide a link to the actual text of the article.
Some provide a copy of the article with the graphics and everything.
There are resources for:
- Images
- Statistics
- Newspapers
- Literary Criticisms
- Websites
- General Resources for newspaper, magazine and journals
- Subject specific resources (articles on education, art, or science...)

One of the biggest problems students often have is finding the right tool for the job they need done.

What's a good general resource for articles?
(you can always get more specific later if you like)

Try Academic Search Premier for starters - 

The Academic Search Premier search page looks like this:

Experiment with several searches using the different fields and limiters.

Some other databases you may find useful...

• CQ Researcher
  Searchable collection of ebooks specifically selected for Florida's community colleges.
• e-books
  Searchable collection of ebooks specifically selected for Florida's community colleges.
• LexisNexis: Statistical Universe
  Comprehensive access to statistical information from Congressional Information Service, Inc. Search summaries of statistical publications and link to full-text of selected publications on government Web sites.
• Opposing Viewpoints
  Search viewpoint articles, contextual topic overviews, government and organizational statistics, court cases, profiles of government agencies and special interest groups, newspaper and magazine articles and more concerning social issues.

Access these databases and more through the Remote Access Databases link on the Library's Web Site

Internet Resources

A web site suggestion...

Public Opinion Online: http://www.publicagenda.org/