Subject Specialist:
African American and Diaspora Studies
African Studies
Ethnic Studies
814-865-8864
e-mail: san17@psu.edu
Sylvia A. Owiny
Title: Social Sciences Librarian
Subject Specialist:
African American and Diaspora Studies
African Studies
Ethnic Studies
814-865-8864
e-mail: san17@psu.edu
Look at your syllabus for topic ideas
Identify keywords for your topic
The Libraries' Try These First list of databases is a good place to start to develop your topic. Use identified keywords to find articles on your topic.
Use encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference works (provide background information and overviews of topics, cited works, a good starting point for your topic).
Use Bibliographies to locate information in books, journals, magazines, newspapers, etc. on a topic.
Example: In Quick Search or Advanced Search in The CAT, enter gender roles and Africa in Keywords Anywhere.
Talk to your instructor or librarian about how to narrow/broaden your topic, etc.
Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works provide background information and overviews of topics — also a good starting point for research.
Locate encyclopedias and other reference works, books, and other materials (videos, audio formats, dissertations, electronic formats) in The CAT (Penn State Libraries' online Catalog)
Go to Advanced Search in The CAT
Enter identified keyword(s)
Select Material Type: Reference Book, Book or Bound Serial, Video Material, etc.
Limit to year, library, etc.
Use the I Want It button to have books delivered to you from another campus location.
Using the LionSearch Advanced Search menu:
Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience
Encyclopedia of Pre-colonial Africa: Archaeology, History, Languages, Cultures, and Environments
Available via the Libraries' Databases by Title [A-Z list]:
The following databases are available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List) or by subject using Research Guides:
African Studies Internet Resources (Columbia University Libraries)
Africa South of the Sahara (Karen Fung, Stanford University)
African Traditional Religion (Chidi Denis Isizoh)
Citation and Writing Guides, a Penn State Libraries' Research Guide, provides links to online citation guides as well as citation management tools that will help you correctly format your bibliographic references.
