Friday, 30 March 2012

Library Tutorial Week

This will take place in the Training Room of the Matheson Library and not in the usual tute room. You'll find the Training Room on the ground floor of the library and it's pretty clearly signposed so you shouldn't get lost, but here's a map just in case : Matheson map

This is a compulsory class and there will be worksheet to be completed. The aim is to give you the skills you need to research your essay and reference it properly using the required footnote style.

Try the following to warm up your skills for the task.


Part A.  Books
Task:  identify and cite a book from the Monash Library
Go to the Library catalogue:  http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/
Click on ‘Basic Search’.  From the drop-down menu on the right-hand side, select ‘Library collections’ (if you use the ‘All resources’ tab, you’ll search the Internet!)
Now type in your own surname.  You should get a list of items.  If nothing comes up, try a similar name.
You will see, on the left side of each item, a description:  ‘Book’; ‘Article’; ‘Book chapter’; ‘Text resource’.
1.  Choose one of the books, and give the full reference, in the form indicated in the History Essay-Writing Guide, http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/history/ugrad/essay-writing/index.php

2.  What is the call number of this book? (you’ll find it under ‘Locations’)
3.  Now click on ‘Details’:  what is the first subject heading?
4.  Go to the first subject heading:  from the list, pick out another title on the same subject and give the full reference in the form indicated in the Essay-Writing Guide.
Part B.  Articles in periodicals (often called ‘journals’)
Task:  find and cite a journal article.
Go back to ‘Basic Search’, and this time leave the ‘All resources’ setting in place (default).
Enter your surname again, and this time select an article from the list.  If none appears, try a different, similar name.
5.  Give the full reference for this article in the form indicated in the Essay-Writing Guide, http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/history/ugrad/essay-writing/index.php
6.  Is this article available in the Monash Library? If it’s available in hard copy give the call number; if the full text is available electronically,  what database is it in?  (Click on ‘View online’ to find out.)
 
There is also an online referencing tutorial provided by the Library at:

which I think you'll find useful and it will take about 20 minutes to complete.
As always you need to comment on the blog and this week the question is "What is the difference between a book and a journal article?"

9 comments:

  1. cant really think of any particularly satisfying answers beyond these few details: A book is a self contained piece regarding any number of topics, a journal article is a single piece from a collection of other pieces all centrered around a single topic, generally much narrower than that of a book. A journal article is also found in periodical numbered volumes and issues, while a book generally stands alone.

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  2. A book is a comprehensive exploration of a topic that examines its subject in detail, resulting in more extensive analyisis, whereas a journal article is considerably shorter and often a more immediate or narrowly focused inquiry into a very specific topic. Books are published once (excluding revisions), however journals are published periodically in volumes/issues on a regular basis. A book usually has one author, sometimes more, with its contents divided into chapters; a journal has many contributors, with its contents delivered as articles.

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  3. Books, in contrast to journal articles, are longer in the number of pages which allows the author to explore more of a particular subject, are not published regularly and are only published once, as opposed to the regularly produced and volume organised journals.

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  4. A book is a more in depth exploration of a specific topic. As it is longer a more extensive base is allowed to be formed and the author may sufficiently cover their ideas. A journal article however is more narrow in its detail and are generally published periodically. They provide a more general view of a topic.

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  5. Books are often longer, more in depth texts that explore a particular area of study. They are often written by a single or small amount of authors and are generally not periodically updated. Journal articles on the other hand are smaller, more succinct accounts on a specific part of an area of study. As such the journal itself has a large amount of contributors and is frequently updated to retain relevance and recency of information

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  6. Books are often longer, more in depth texts that explore a particular area of study. They are often written by a single or small amount of authors and are generally not periodically updated. Journal articles on the other hand are smaller, more succinct accounts on a specific part of an area of study. As such the journal itself has a large amount of contributors and is frequently updated to retain relevance and recency of information

    ReplyDelete
  7. Books are a more generally exploration of a topic whereas a journal article is often quite specific in the topic that its discussing. Books are often pusblished once and usually have one author but sometimes have more. Journal articles are published periodically and each article has different authors.

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  8. The only thing I can think about is a difference of lenth. The bonk is longer and, therefore, can study a topic in more details than the journal article. I would also say that a book is 'independant' whereas the journal article is among a bunch of other articles in an issue.

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  9. A book is written by one or more people, it has chapters and may cover vast amount of ideas on one subject. A journal is colection of periodically publiched articles that are written by academics.

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