ENGL 202C: Technical Writing - Dr. Sheriff

Introduction:  The science and technology libraries at University Park gather online and print information pertaining to their specific subjects. Check out their websites!

See these tips for how to evaluate information for help in selecting quality resources.

Get an overview of the topic by using an encyclopedia:

• Wikipedia (general)
• Access Science (McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology) basic science encyclopedia
• Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry chemistry, chemical engineering, and related disciplines
• Gale Virtual Reference Library a compilation of encyclopedias in all subjects
• Oxford Reference Online a compilation of dictionaries
• Knovel a compilation of science and technology handbooks
• Encyclopedia of Genetics
• Encyclopedia of Microbiology
• HowStuffWorks a website with descriptions of processes

  Reminder: you may have to broaden or narrow your topic to get usable results!

Find Books and Government Publications: you won't find entire books on narrow research topics, but they are useful for broad topics, reviews of research areas, and for specific information found in the book chapters (use the book's index!).

Use The CAT - which is the list of what is owned by Penn State Libraries.

Search for exact titles by selecting the "browse" radio button and typing in the exact title in the search box

Search for subjects by selecting the "keyword" radio button and typing in some key words. Combine terms to narrow your topic.

Use the subject headings (click on the "more" tab to see them) from relevant books for additional search terms.

Write down the call number and location for any book you want. For more detailed searching information go to the Quick Guide to the CAT.

Reminder: you may have to broaden or narrow your topic to get usable results!

Look for Articles:

Decide what kind of article you need (What’s the difference?):

• Popular?
• News?
• Trade
• Research/scholarly?

Think of the different terms and synonyms you can use

Decide how to combine terms

Plan for broader/narrower terms

Look at the best references you retrieve and determine the subject terms used for those articles. Then revise your search using these new terms.

Try These First if you want general popular interest magazines and newspapers or pro and con debate information.

Use a Research Guide if you want more scholarly articles.

Write down or print off all pertinent information (called the 'citation') including the journal title, volume, date, and page numbers.

Get the full text:  Once you find the citation in a database, try the  button to see if Penn State has the electronic or print version of the article you need. If the electronic version is available, it will appear as the first link on the Get it! menu. If the article is not available electronically, click on The CAT link to automatically search our catalog and see if Penn State has a print copy. If no other copy is available, you can use the ILLiad link to request it from another library.

Reminder: you may have to broaden or narrow your topic to get usable results!