Subject Specialties:
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 Specialties:
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
Try These First provides links to general databases to help find articles using your identified keywords
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.
Review the Penn State Libraries' African Studies Research Guide for strategies to find country information, reference books, call numbers for African Studies materials, etc. [Recommended]
Talk to your instructor or librarian about how to narrow/broaden your topic, etc.
Using the LionSearch Advanced Search menu:
Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference works provide background information and overviews of topics, cited works, etc. They are a good starting point to research your topic.
Locate encyclopedias and other reference works, books, and other materials (videos, audio formats, dissertations, electronic formats) in The CAT (Penn State Libraries' online catalog)
Click Advanced Search [in the box to the right]
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.
Available through the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z List) or by subject in Libraries' Research Guides:
Newspaper articles can provide context as well as current or historical information about your topic. Use the Libraries' News and Newspaper Sources Research Guide to find appropriate new sources for your topic.
Women's Studies [Penn State Libraries' Research Guide]
International Affairs [Penn State Libraries' Research Guide]
Africa South of the Sahara (Karen Fung. Stanford University Libraries)
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.
