FOR 365: Issues in Natural Resources Conservation (Anzinger)

Evaluating web sites

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:15:25 -0700

Items are added to the library selectively so when you discover something via a Google search, be selective. When evaluating a web site look for these attributes:

Purpose : Is it there to inform? Persuade? Sell? Entertain?
Authorship & Authority : What are the person's (group's) credentials? Can you tell? Is the person/group credible? An authority?
Objectivity : Does the site have a bias? Can you articulate what it is?
Accuracy : Are sources cited or acknowledged?
Currency : How current is the information? Is this important?
Completeness : Is the information complete or just a summary of information found elsewhere?

Where possible look for additional sources of information to verify information you find on the web, particularly if your are unsure about its authority, accuracy, and currency. Consider limiting your google searches to .edu and .gov sites.

Things to know about databases before you do your first search

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:36:17 -0700

If you are new to database searching or haven't searched for a year or so, follow the "read more" link below for some tips and troubleshooting advice.

Course Instructor

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:11:30 -0700

Dawn Anzinger

Accessing Library Databases

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:14:25 -0700

You want to make your case with the best evidence. The library purchases access to indexing databases which help you to identify articles on specific topics. Most databases are not freely available to the public and are only licensed to OSU Libraries for the OSU community of users. They are independent of the holdings of any one library.

To begin using these databases and locating articles in "peer reviewed" journals and other reliable resources, start on the OSU Libraries home page: http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu,

Click on "Databases," and then on the first letter for the name of the database you want.
If you are not on campus, you will encounter the "ez-proxy server" asking you to "authenticate" yourself as a qualified OSU user by entering your ONID username and ONID password.
Apart from this, you should never be asked for a username nor a password while attempting to use a database. If you are asked for one, this is usually an indication that the ports are busy. Just try again later.

Course Assignment

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:47:39 -0700

Synthesize material across disciplines (history, biology, ecology, political science, economics, etc. as appropriate) into an 8-10 page, impartial and objective, well-referenced, expository paper focusing on an issue in natural resource conservation. This assignment is explained in greater detail on your class syllabus but the steps include:

Locating two good articles on an issue in natural resource conservation. Create an annotated bibliography of your two articles. For each, provide a full bibliographic reference in CSE or MLA citation style. (For guidance on referencing electronic articles in MLA style, see this website.) Then, write a brief (3-4 sentences) summary of each article which explains the key points of the author’s argument. (Due end of second week)

Tip: Try browsing one or more of the journals recommended in this guide for topic ideas, or using Academic Search Premier if you have one already.

Tip: Even though you only need two articles for this part of the assignment. start collecting other references of interest and be sure to have the information you need to cite these articles properly.

Part one of the research paper assignment, you are asked to write a well-referenced 4-6 page paper on your chosen topic. (Due end of fifth week)

Tip: Well referenced means supported by published material so investigate what others have said about your topic using one or more of the databases noted in this guide.

Peer-Reviews (Due: end of 7th week)
Complete Final Draft (Due: end of 9th week)

Edit Part One: Edit and improve part one of your research paper by incorporating the comments made by fellow students and the instructor. Your score on the final draft will reflect the improvements made to this section.
Write Part Two: Write an additional 4-6 pages of well-referenced text on your chosen topic that identifies options for resolving the issue and conserving natural resources.

Tip: Again, remember to refer to the writing of others as you complete your paper.

Course description

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:54:36 -0700

Provides a background of major current issues in natural resources conservation with emphasis on forests, soils, and water and potential sustainable carrying capacity. Focuses on evaluating facts and opinions related to issues. Covers the basics of terrestrial and aquatic ecology, recent and current issues of soil, water, and forest use and management.

Instructor's Recommendations

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:30:11 -0700

Listed below are a few journals you may want to browse to get ideas for a topic. If you are off campus you wil be asked for your Onid username and password. If the links below do not work, click on "E-Journals" under Quicklinks on the Library homepage and then type the title of the journal:

Obtaining journal articles from OSU Libraries

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:44:43 -0700

The indexing databases are independent of the holdings of any one library so you should expect that OSU Libraries will not subscribe to or own every journals you need. If you find reference to an article but are asked to pay for it (maybe you tried Google Scholar), be sure to try the library first.
Citation Linker: If you have a reference and want to see if OSU Libraries subscribes to the electronic version of that journal (or some service that provides the full-text from that journal), click the E-Journals link on the Library's home page and look for the Citation Linker.
360 Link to Full Text: When you do a search in a database you should look for the "360 Link to Full Text" by each reference. Use this link to check if the library has a full-text version of the article. If not it will provide you with a link to check the library catalog so you can see if we have the journal in print. AND if we don't have either of these, you will find a link to the Interlibrary loan form needed to request it from another library.
Online Catalog: Not all references are in journals so if in doubt, try the library catalog. You can borrow most books and bound items or you can photocopy/scan what you need from them.
You may need to use Interlibrary loan (ILL) to obtain the articles but as explained above, we are trying to make that an easier process.
Graduate students: You should expect that OSU Libraries will not subscribe to or own every journals you need. You will need to use Interlibrary loan to obtain the articles.
When you find a reference to an article but are asked to pay for it (maybe you tried Google Scholar), be sure to try the library first.

OSU Libraries on the Web

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:57:04 -0700

Be sure you can locate the the OSU Libraries Home Page and from there find these three links

OSU Libraries Catalog

Databases

E-Journals

Also look for the links to "Get help with a subject" and "Get help with a class" (see the navigation bar to the left).

In addition, the suggestions below are not specific to this class but you may find them interesting.

If you would like a "primer" on the library research, go to the library tutorial page;
If you would like to learn more about tracking current research, the keeping current guide provides some short tutorials.

Databases for Natural Resource Conservation

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:11:30 -0700

When considering a database be aware of its:

Subject coverage
Types of publications indexed in the database e.g., research journals, popular magazines, conference proceedings, government documents, etc.
Dates of coverage

All databases have accessible help pages that provide tips and advice for effective searching. Once you have done a search in one or more databases you should have a list of articles which are potentially relevant to your project topic.

Suggested databases for locating research findings in the field of Natural Resources Conservation are listed below. Start with Academic Search Premier and/or Lexis Nexis Academic for your first assignment. Try at least one of the others as you look for additional information to support your "well documented" paper.