In this video, I will walk you through the Turabian Word Template, which is linked in the description [see below]. When you begin typing your own paper, you can use this document as a Template to fill in your own information. Some of the formatting instructions are written in the document like this. Make sure to use this Template alongside the instructions provided by your professor and the Owl Purdue Manual linked here and below in the video in the description. You’ll notice on the title page I’ve written a note: Remember that any formatting directions from your professor overrule the formatting I’ve provided with this Template.
In Turabian format, the title page is Page 1 but the number does not appear; the main text of the document is Page 2. I’ve added footnotes to the document to show you what the formatting looks like. When you type your paper you’ll want to remove the footnotes. Just delete the number in the text to make the footnote disappear. To create a footnote click “References,” “Insert Footnote.” An in-text footnote number will appear with the corresponding footnote at the bottom of the page. Use the formatting in this tutorial for citing books and articles. Each paragraph is indented at 1/2 an inch. Headers are not limited to the style I provided in this document, so be sure to check with your professor about header-level formatting. An example Bibliography is included at the end of the document. It is the formatting provided to cite books, articles, and websites.
Thank you so much for watching. Be sure to explore the other tutorial videos on the library website.
Search Using Subject Terms
There are two ways to search library databases: one keyword search, and two subject search also called subject terms. Keyword searching should be the most familiar way of searching. It’s how we search Google: just plug in search terms to begin browsing. Sometimes it may be useful to use a subject search after your initial keyword search. If you find a subject heading that matches your topic, it can take a lot of guesswork out of you having to find the correct keyword for your search and will also narrow your search results. To find subject headings in the EBSCO databases click here. In ProQuest click here. Thanks so much for watching.
Begin by picking a broad subject that is of interest to you which also fits with your assignment requirements. Consider topics that have affected you personally, class discussions, or news stories. Make sure you choose a topic that has research available. If you’re having trouble picking a topic, try CQ Researcher, a library database which can be found here. You can browse specific topics and a wide range of subjects each time you click a link, the database will narrow the topic for you. Once you’ve found an article, you can read it to determine if it would be a good direction for your research assignment. Once you’ve settled on a topic, you can focus it by adding detail to write your research question.
Let’s look at some examples. Instead of “What is the USA’s federal policy on alternative energy?” try “What impact has the United States policies on alternative energy had on its economy?” The first question is too narrow because it can be answered simply by reading a document. The second question is better because it allows enough opportunity to form an argument and present results in a paper.
Here’s another example along the same lines. Instead of “What are the effects of alternative energy policies?” try “In what ways does the United States alternative energy policy affect the coal mining industry in West Virginia?” This time the first question is a bit too broad because I need to know who or what is affected by the policy. In the second question, I’ve added specific details which would allow enough research opportunity while not being too broad.
Thanks so much for watching. To learn more about the research process, check out our tutorial videos on the library website.
The NU Library offers subject guides to get you started on your research—found here. Look into the section that best matches your topic to discover what resources are available. For example, on the Psychology page we have a list of databases, videos, tests-and-measures, and tutorials. The databases listed can be searched all together using the search box here, or you can click into each individual database to search. The following databases are useful for getting started with English comp and research writing papers: Academic Search Premier, CQ Researcher, ProQuest, Research Library Complete, and Google Scholar.
Encyclopedias are reference sources. Use them to gather background knowledge and broader context for your topic.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is the most widely used encyclopedia on the internet. While it is open sourced, it is still a power tool. You will not be citing Wikipedia in your papers. Use it to find keywords and look through the citation list to find articles in library databases
Gale eBooks
Through the NU Library, you can access the Gale eBooks, which include specialized encyclopedias on various topics taught at NU.
