Olmsted Library Page

College Transition Literature Review Course Project

***

Steps in the Research Process - Using GALE Databases

1) Choose your topic/choose subtopics

Example: Highlighting Search Terms for Research 

(see how I came up with topics and subtopics by looking at the research questions)

2) Make a list of search terms derived from your topic and subtopics 

(continue to add search terms as you read articles)

Search Terms and Strategies Help Sheet 

Video on how to use keywords as search terms

3) Search in Database using your search terms

Ms. Cowe's Search Process for this Class

(check boxes on the right that say "full-text" and "peer-reviewed" if applicable)

-Also, look at the Explore, Related Subjects, and More Like This links on the right side for more articles

Video on how to search in the databases for articles 

Link to the Academic OneFile Database (ask teacher/librarian for password)

4) Take Notes and Highlight

-As you read, use the highlight and notes tools (found by selecting the text you want to highlight)

Video on how to highlight and take notes

-Notes are important for you as you paraphrase later in your paper, in order to avoid plagiarism

See more on plagiarism and how to avoid it in this video

5) Save articles as you go along by using the DOWNLOAD, Google Drive, or OneDrive buttons

Check out this HELP sheet (one page) for info on how to do this

6) Find the APA Citation (using the "quote" button at the top) 

-copy and paste each citation, as you go along, into a separate "reference" page

Watch this video on finding the citation information (choose APA not MLA!)

APA Citation Resources (look here for many more resources on using APA style)

7) Create an outline of how you'll write your paper using your articles, notes and highlighted information. 

8) Write a first draft, revise your work, and create a final paper. You will have a cover page, 3-5 pages of writing, and a final "references" page with an alphabetical list of your APA citations. 

Here's a link to an example of how a final paper should be formatted

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Literature Review Sample Database Article List 

 Link to the Academic OneFile Database (ask teacher/librarian for password)

***

Check out the videos below for more help and review