EN 12 Web Companion
Stage 4: Search & Retrieve
Construct search queries and note results.
- Truncation: When using keywords to search an electronic database, it is possible to include two or more variations of a word. Just append a dollar sign ($) when searching the library catalog, or an asterisk (*) for most other databases. Example:
- liter$ will search the library catalog for literal, literary, literature, literate, etc. liter* will similarly search most other databases.
- Quotation Marks: Using quotes around your terms will search for a phrase.
- Boolean Operators: Combine synonyms with OR and put them inside parentheses. Use AND to combine terms, like this:
- "Literary criticism" AND (poet* OR drama*)
- Here's another example:
- Shakespear* AND (Hamlet OR Lear) AND crit*
Want a better explanation of Boolean Searching? View this
Boolean Searching Flash Tutorial  (Get Flash) created by Kristin Whitehair and Sigrid Kelsey at Louisiana State University Libraries.
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DEMO: See an Example Search in Literature Online (LION)
Using Citations to Find Full Text
From Citations to Full Text Quiz
This concise tutorial shows you how to distinguish between book citations, journal article citations, and book chapter citations, then demonstrates how to find the full text in each case. Take the Quiz to check your comprehension!
Additional Tips:
- Print, save, e-mail or otherwise note appropriate results, including citation information for bibliography.
- Remember to check the Journal Locator for article references and the Library Catalog for book and chapter references to find the full text when not available from a database.
- Too little or too much information may require returning to Stage 1 to broaden or narrow your topic.
For additional help, contact:
- A Reference Librarian
- The Writing Center
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