English 202A
Literature Review & Annotated Bibliography
Library Research Tips

1. Jumpstart your research by using PSLV Library’s English 202A guides at www.lv.psu.edu/library/guides. Each guide lists relevant e-resources of articles and reference materials.  
   
   
2. Identify additional relevant e-resources using the “Articles by Subject” lists at http://www.lias.psu.edu/gensubjlist.html.
   
   
3. Specialized encyclopedias are excellent sources of topic ideas, topic overviews, and bibliographies of key articles and books on the subject. Gale Virtual Reference Library and Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences are two excellent online resources Others, such as Encyclopedia of Violence and Immigration and Asylum are available on the shelves of the library reference collection.
   
   
4. In e-resources, search subject terms and phrases, sometimes labeled descriptors, for a more precise search.
   
   
5. In PsycINFO, check for a literature review on the topic. Click “Search Tools at the top of the screen, and then select “Literature Review” from the methodology menu. Enter the search number (e.g. #1) in the search box or search a term or phrase.
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
6. Some resources, like PsycInfo and Google Scholar, include the number of times an article has been cited by others. Use this information to identify landmark articles.
   
   
7. In most e-resources, use the   button to get the full-text of an article online or via ILLiad.
   
   
8. Search several CSA e–resources at once by clicking “specific databases” and then checking the titles. CSA resources include PsycInfo, ERIC, Sociological Abstracts, and other sources of scholarly articles.
   
   
9. In JStor, eliminate book reviews and restrict the search to scholarly journal articles by checking “articles” on the advanced search page.
   
   
10. Search for books on a topic in The Cat or Worldcat via the E-Resources List A-Z at www.lias.psu.edu/alallpsu.html. To identify all books related to a subject, find one relevant title, and then search the subject headings assigned to it.
    
    
11.  Check books for bibliographies of other books and articles on the subject.
    

Last updated May 2007