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Assignment Calculator

A Time Management Tool for Researching and Writing Your Paper

Step 4 – Find and Evaluate Books

Key Points

  • OneSearch, the library's catalog, will allow you to explore the resources not only at SJSU but also at the other 23 CSU libraries.
  • Books can be requested when unavailable through the King Library.
  • Evaluate the resources that you find.

 

Using OneSearch

Now that you understand the assignment and have chosen your topic, it’s time to begin selecting materials for your paper. As you find materials, you can start to review and evaluate them. Begin your search with OneSearch, the library's catalog. This will help you find a selection of books and other materials.

Watch the short video below for OneSearch tips:

Now Try OneSearch!

Below is OneSearch's basic search box.  

OneSearch Catalog

Enter Your Search Term:
Advanced Search

The first thing to do is break down your research topic into into its main concepts. Enter these words into the OneSearch search box. The following is a screen shot of a climate change search:

Screenshot of OneSearch after searching on "climate change" AND arctic

If you have any questions about your search or topic:

  • contact a reference librarian on the 1st floor of the King Library
  • contact the subject specialist librarian who will help with your specific topic

How to Request a Book from Another Library

SJSU students, faculty, and staff can request items from all 23 CSU campus libraries and have them delivered to their home campus within 2-5 days. Requests can be made directly from the item record in OneSearch, but you must be logged in to your account to see this option. 

If there is a book not available from any of the 23 CSU campus libraries through OneSearch, you can request the item through Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad). ILLiad is an electronic borrowing system that searches libraries outside the CSU system. With a simple, one-time, online registration, you can request books and PDFs of articles. For directions on how to borrow using ILLiad, see the ILLiad information page.

Evaluating Sources

Examine the sources you find to be sure that they are adequate for your research needs. Using these five criteria, ask the questions below to evaluate your materials.

Authority

  • What are the author’s credentials?
  • Has the author written other titles?
  • Who is the publisher? Is the book self-published?

Accuracy

  • Is the book free of spelling and grammatical errors?
  • Does the book have an editor?
  • Does the book have a bibliography or reference section?

Objectivity

  • Is the information presented objectively?
  • Does the author try to influence the reader’s opinion?
  • Are other viewpoints clearly presented by the author?

Currency

  • Does the publication date meet your research needs?
  • Is the information current or up-to-date?

Now that you have begun your research, proceed to Step 5: Work with Your Topic to begin your research. 

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