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BIOL 2389 SO Luyster

This guide is for students taking BIOL 2389 Academic Cooperative course

Where Do I Start

1. Define your research topic: Start with your assignment

2. Find relevant sources: Explore the library's resources – databases, journals, books, and online materials.

3. Evaluate the credibility of sources: Consider the source's authority, objectivity, and currency.

4. Analyze and synthesize information: Critically analyze the information you find, identify key points, and synthesize them into your own understanding.

5. Cite your sources: Give credit to the authors of the information you use following a specific citation style

General Search Strategies

asterisk

Known as truncation, using an asterisk at the end of part of your search word will pull different endings, searching for many different keywords at one time.

Example: 

Organ*

quotation marks

Put quotation marks around your keywords to search them as a phrase.

Example: 

"Fresh water"

Venn diagram showing only the non-intersecting part of the first of two overlapping circles shaded in

Results do not include any that have the keyword following NOT.

Example: 

Cats NOT dogs

Venn diagram showing only the intersecting part of two overlapping circles shaded in

Results only include those with both of your keywords.

Example: 

Cats AND dogs

Venn diagram with intersecting and non-intersecting parts shaded in

Results include those with either one or both of your keywords.

Example: 

Cats OR dogs