http://library.chattanoogastate.edu-----697-4448 

ENGL1010--Composition I--Ms. Dorothy Lochridge
Library Instructor:  Tisa Houck (697-2577)

   "Sooner or later, wittingly or unwittingly, we must pay for every intrusion on the natural environment."
Barry Commoner (1917 - ____) US "biologist, environmentalist"
 

Assignment: 

Each student will write a 1200-1500 word research paper on a topic inspired by Rachel Carson's essay "The Obligation to Endure," Chief Seattle's "Letter to President Pierce," or Terry Williams' "The Clan of the One-Breasted Women," that are included in the course text.  The essay must argue a point of view on an issue related to the environment and may be, but is not required to be a pro vs. con argument.  Alternatively, students may ask and answer a question or offer a solution to an environmental issue. A minimum of 3-5 sources is required, at least two of which must come from the library's databases and one from the textbook.  Other sources might include the DVD produced by Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, books, websites, documentaries, etc. 

1.  Electronic Databases: For full-text articles on a broad range of topics from magazines, newspapers, reference books, some multimedia.  (Require current passwords for off-campus access.) 

Tips for finding information from electronic databases:       

• Think of all the synonyms that you can use to find information about your topic, such as benefits, advantages, solutions, etc.

• Do several searches by combining words with and as well as by using terms side-by-side, such as greenhouse and gases or "greenhouse gases" to see different results.  (Use quotation marks around a phrase.)

• Use an asterick (*) to get varied word endings, ex. melt* finds melt, melts, melted, and melting .

• Scan an article before you print; some articles may be quite long or not as useful as you had hoped.

• Email articles to yourself if you don't have time to read them online, or they are too long to print.

• Choose information from the best sources, not just the first ones you see.

  Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center

• Defaults to Subject searching, but you may also try a Keyword search if you choose that option.

• Look for background information in the Reference tab, and controversial issues in the Viewpoints tab.

  MasterFile Premier

• Defaults to Keyword searching for very specific information needs, (ex. "alternative fuels" or alternative and fuels) 

• Use the subject list in the yellow column to narrow your results. 

2. Streaming videos: for documentaries produced by Discovery Communications
            (You will need different passwords for off-campus access.) 
       
  Discovery Education Streaming

  Search Tips:

• Type your topic in search box, ex. global warming OR global warming and polar bears

• Consider the grade level OR limit your results to grades 9-12 with the link in the left column

• View the list of individual segments.

• Play the entire video or select from the list of segments.

• View the information for MLA format and make necessary corrections. 
   

3.  Reliable Internet sites

When using the Internet, use only sites that are authoritative and reliable, such as:

  Librarians' Internet Index  (http://lii.org/)

  Advanced Google Search (Limit results to domains with .org, .edu, or .gov)
 

4. MLA citation formats

   Electronic Databases

    Web Sites

Tisa Houck
4/08