These academic reference sources are useful for understanding what certain terms or ideas mean in an academic context. They can be helpful for understanding readings, or for beginning research for your presentations.
You can watch this Research with Reference Sources video to learn more about using reference sources.
There is a lot of useful, reliable information available outside of the NYU Shanghai library. Here are some links to websites that have news, blogs, reports, and videos related to your course topics. These can be good starting points for your research. You can also find sources through a general web search like Google or Baidu.
Remember that information online is not always reliable. Try to evaluate it carefully, and ask for help in the library or from your instructor if you aren't sure.
There are many ways to find news and magazine articles, including a general web search like Google or Baidu. You can also find these types of articles in the library. You can do a general search in the Library's Catalog and then use the "Resource Type" filter on the left side of the page to see only "Newspaper Articles" or "Magazine Articles".
You can also search through specific newspapers or news databases. Try using your topic keywords to search through these resources. Ask for help in the library if you have trouble.
If you need an academic source for your research, it can be a good idea to use one chapter from an academic book. Look through the Table of Contents to see the different chapters in the book, and choose one chapter that looks useful to read.
You can find NYU Shanghai library books by searching in the Library Catalog. Search with keywords, and then use the "Resource Type" filter on the left side of the page to see only "Books". Books from the library can be either academic or non-academic. Check if the book is academic by looking for plenty of in-text citations throughout the book chapter, and search for the author's name to see if they are a researcher. If you aren't sure, ask for help in the library!
If you want to browse through books for a topic, you can click on these links to see books and other sources tagged with a specific Subject heading. Check the GPS guide for more information about using subject headings.
If you're looking for an academic source on a more specific topic, journal articles can be a good option. Journal articles can use more complex language, because they're written for academics to understand, so they may be difficult to understand as a new researcher. Try to start your research with other sources first.
You can find journal articles by searching in the Library Catalog. Search with keywords, and then use the "Resource Type" filter on the left side of the page to see only "Journal Articles".
The journals listed here include many articles related to your course topic. Use the "Search inside" option to look for keywords in the journal. You can also click the "View Online" links to open the journal and browse through recent articles. Every journal website looks a bit different, so if you're having trouble, ask for help in the library!
Vanessa Lawrence is the NYU Shanghai librarian who provides support for EAP classes, including yours. Contact her by email or book an appointment if you need research support. Some other options for help are also listed here.
