Useful Links

Columbia State Library

Tutoring & Learning Center

MLA Citation Help
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Confused about MLA?
Purdue University has a comprehensive site devoted to the use of MLA. Explains and offers examples for citing various types of sources in papers and Works Cited pages.

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Ideas for Library Sources

Suggested sources for articles critiques

Library databases that may help you in find information to support your argument:

If you are at home, you will be asked for your PVT username and password when you login to the databases. This is the same username and password that you use to log in to WebCT and to campus computers.

Suggested sources for Speech No. 1

Although Speech No. 1 does not require a library source, you might still want to take advantage of some of the library’s online resources for this first assignment.

Need a dictionary: try the Oxford English Dictionary (world’s best English language dictionary)
Need an encyclopedia: try Encyclopedia Britannica Online (still the best)
Library’s big multipurpose databases have lots of journal articles and cover many topics:

Book sources:
NetLibrary over 50,000 ebooks on many topics

Suggested sources for Speech No. 2

Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) includes four excellent encyclopedias on countries and cultures:

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations,
Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia,
and Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America.

Click on the GVRL hyperlink above to search these titles. The library also has print copies of these encyclopedias in the reference collection in Columbia; however, the pdf files in GVRL look just like the pages in our print books.

For example, a search for Poland in Title in the GVRL yielded about 14 articles, including several from the encyclopedias mentioned above.

Book sources:

NetLibrary a collection of 50,000+ e-books; may also include information about the country or culture you are researching.

General OneFile now includes 4500+ travel books from Hunter Publishing, Inc. Finding these books will require a bit of digging:

Select Advanced Search
From the first drop down, select Publisher Name (pb); enter Hunter Publishing, Inc. as your publisher
From the second drop down, select Subject (su) and enter your country or culture

Magazine, Journal, Newspaper sources:

Suggested sources for Speech No. 3

Since you can select from many social problems, almost any of the library databases might be helpful, but here are a few to get your started:

Need a database to help you think about the pros and cons of an issue?:

Issues and Controversies Articles present pros and cons of 400+ issues that students commonly research

Big multipurpose databases with lots of journal articles covering many topics:

Book sources:

NetLibrary over 50,000 ebooks on many topics

Local information from the Tennessean newspaper:

Tennessean Newspaper

Statistical information in library databases:

Gale Virtual Reference Library(full-text reference books on many topics; good background information as well as statistical information)

World Almanac Database (general stats for variety of topics)

Statistical information from the U.S. government:

Statistical Abstract of the United States (the best and most authoritative collection of general statistical information that is available in the US; covers many topics) Full-text is online at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (click the link above); library has older editions in print

Suggested sources for Speech No. 4

Several library databases will have information about various products. Topping the list are the business databases: General Business File ASAP and Business Full Text

In General Business File ASAP Search your product by Subject or Keyword. For example, click Keyword and enter “Crazy Glue.” Check radio button for “in entire article content” and check box for “articles with text.” Put quotes around any search terms that you want to keep together like “Motel 6.”

In Business Full Text Enter your product or business in the search box. Put quotes around any search terms that you want to keep together like “Motel 6.”

Big multipurpose databases with lots of journal articles covering many topics:

Book sources:

NetLibrary over 50,000 ebooks on many topics

Local information from the Tennessean newspaper:

Tennessean Newspaper

How to contact a librarian

Librarians for Speech 241 classes:

 

Anne Scott ascott12@ColumbiaState.edu

931.540.2851

Or

Stop by the Columbia State campus library closest to you and consult with the librarian or library assistant.

Or library general phone number: 931.540.2560

Or library general email: library@columbiastate.edu (ask a librarian)

Why would you want to use these suggested sources?

Are you looking for “good sources” of information but don’t know where to find them? Did you lose points on a paper because you used Wikipedia as your main source of information? If so, then these suggested sources can help you find higher quality sources that will enable you to write or speak more authoritatively about your topic.