How to Use This Guide
Things to Keep in Mind
When you study the humanities you are exploring various art forms representative of different cultures across time periods in world history.
You will investigate three categories of arts: Visual, Performing, and Literary.
You will compare and contrast these arts across Western and non-Western cultures.
Tips for Research & Scholarly Writing
Author or Publisher
What can you find out about the person or group who either created the information or is making it available?
Audience
Who is the intended audience for this information? What level of education, background knowledge, or experience is expected?
Content
Does the source contain facts, statistics, or other data to support the ideas and provide evidence for claims? Is there a References, Works Cited, or other Bibliography?
Purpose
Why has the information been made available? What tone or attitude is used in the presentation of the information?
Context
What is happening historically, socially, and culturally at the time of the source's publication? How does the information in this source compare with other sources covering the same topic?
Try these to get more specific or broader results
Wild Card
- Use a * to include forms or variants of words in your search
- Example: type test* to search for test, testing, tests
Adding a ~
- Adding a tilde (~) to your search term will return related terms.
- Example: ~nutrition will search also nutrition, food and health
Adding a -
- Adding a negative (-) to your search term will take away that term in your search.
- Example: Pets -cats will not find web sites that focus upon cats as pets.
Phrase Search
- By inserting quotes around an exact phase, you will search only the words you type in, in that exact order with no words in between term.
- Example: "consumer product chemistry"
Boolean Operators
- Using AND, OR, NOT can broaden or narrow a search depending on your inquiry. "AND" will give you results that contain both words. "OR" will give results about either word and "NOT" will not search the term preceding.
- Example: Summer AND Flower, Summer OR Flower, Summer NOT flower
Definition: In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. While some types of writing aren't as concerned with documenting sources, ideas, images, sounds, etc. traditional academic writing requires these best practices.
How to tell if you are plagiarizing
Are my own words being used?
- If yes, Is it my idea?
- If Yes, Yay! You're not plagiarizing!
- If No, You're paraphrasing. Add a citation and bibliography!
- If No, Are you using quotation marks or placing it in a block quote?
- If Yes, If Yes, Yay! You're not plagiarizing!
- If No, You're plagiarizing! Add a citation and bibliography!
Sources: wpacouncil.org and owl.english.purdue.ed
Get Research Help
