Skip to Main Content

SOC 11 (Hirose) - Sociology of Gender: Getting Started

1. Explore a Topic

a. Search for current events or recent news related to sociology or society on the web, in a magazine, or on the news.

Examples:

New York Times

The New Yorker

Time magazine

CNN.com

b. Browse library databases that cover current issues and can help you get familiar with an issue or refine your topic . They make a great starting point when you have a general idea of a research topic, but you still need to narrow it down.

Examples:

c. Browse the table of contents, topic outlines, and indexes of subject encyclopedias for ideas. (See #2, below.)

2. Consult Encyclopedias and Reference Sources

  • Use reference books for background information, broad overviews and summaries.
  • The reference collection includes general and subject dictionaries and encyclopedias, biographies, directories, almanacs, atlases, etc.
  • Subject encyclopedia articles are signed by contributors who are experts on the topic.
  • Many also contain bibliographies or lists of recommended titles for further research.
  • Reference books cannot be checked out from the library but may be photocopied.

Use the Library Catalog to find other encyclopedias by conducting a keyword or subject search.

 

Advanced Search

Recommended eReference Books

eReference

Finding eReference Video

Off Campus Login Instructions

Log in with your W# and Library Password.

  • Your Library Password is the SAME as your ClassWeb PIN.
  • If you don't know your PIN, go to the college's ClassWeb page, type in your W#, and select "Forgot PIN?".
  • Whenever you change your ClassWeb PIN, it will also automatically update your library password.