Getting Started in the LibraryThis library guide points you in the direction of some basic library resources for completing library assignments and writing research papers in this course. Many of these resources are available from the library's homepage at http://www.lib.ipfw.edu/, so you may want to bookmark both the homepage and this guide.
Here are some resources to get you started:
Gaining an OverviewTo develop and refine your search, it often helps to consult a specialized dictionary, encyclopedia, handbook, textbook, guide, or bibliography. These tools are designed to offer an overview of your topic or research problem written by an expert. They may provide an historical perspective, a chronology of events, definitions of terms or concepts, or bibliographic references leading to the literature in a particular field of study. Many useful reference works are now available online. These handy e-reference collections are accessible via Find Resources By... Subject, Title, or Type on the library's homepage.
Selected Reference Works for this CourseGeneralBlackwell Dictionary of Political Science (Reference JA61 .B43 1999)
Cambridge History of Twentieth Century Political Thought (Reference JA83.C25 2003)
CQ Researcher CQ Researcher topics range from social and teen issues to environment, health, education and technology. Each report is written by an experienced journalist and includes a "Pro/Con" segment, a chronology, and a bibliography. Full-text reports are available dating back to October 1991. Reports produced since January 1996 are available in PDF format as well. US focus with some coverage of international affairs.
Encyclopedia of Government and Politics, 2 vols. (Reference JA61 .C66 1992)
New Dictionary of the History of Ideas The publication of the New Dictionary of the History of Ideas marks the return of a reference work that is an essential tool to make the often complex history of "what we think" accessible to students and general readers. The original 1974 Dictionary of the History of Ideas has long been admired as a landmark document encapsulating the thinking of an era. This thoroughly re-envisioned New Dictionary of the History of Ideas brings fresh intelligence and a global perspective to bear on timeless questions about the individual and society. A distinguished team of international scholars explore new thinking in areas previously covered (communism, linguistics, physics) and present cross-cultural perspectives on more recent topics such as postmodernism, deconstruction and post-colonialism.
Political Science: Illustrated Search Strategy and Sources (Reference JA71 .L69 1993)
Political Philosophy: Theories, Thinkers, and Concepts (Reference JA71 .P6226 2001)
Political Science Research: A Handbook of Scope and Methods (Reference JA71 .J59 1996)
Political Science Student Writer's Manual (Ready Reference JA86 .S39 2000)
Political Theories for Students Provides in-depth information on major political theories and systems from all time periods. Each entry begins with a general overview of the system/theory followed by a discussion of the principal aspects of the theory, the theory's philosophy and an analysis of the historical context in which the theory was developed, including critical response.
Using Government Information: Electronic and Print (Reference J83.Z7 S4 2000)
U.S. Politics and GovernmentAlmanac of American Politics (Service Desk JK271 .B343)
American Congressional Dictionary (Reference JK9 .K73 2001)
Congress and the Nation Covers nearly 60 years, 1945-2004, of the events, trends, and controversies in the U.S. Congress and the presidency. Appropriate for research on politics, U.S. history, government, political science, legal studies, public policy, business regulation, and more.
Congressional Quarterly's Guide to Congress (Reference JK1021 .C565 2000)
Congressional Quarterly's Guide to the Supreme Court, 2 vols. (Reference KF8742 .W567 1997)
CQ Almanac The CQ Almanac offers original narrative accounts of every major piece of legislation that lawmakers considered during a Congressional session including in-depth review and analysis of legislation and policy for each year and comprehensive roll call votes for all major legislation. Arranged thematically, CQ Almanac organizes, distills, and cross-indexes for permanent reference the full year in Congress and in national politics. The online version provides access to tables, graphs, and charts that help explain the issues, browsing by subject, decade, or by a particular year's table of contents, a Policy Tracker to explore a specific policy topic and see how it has changed over the years, saves useful documents or frequent searches for future consultation, and automatically generates citations in four styles with CQ Press's CiteNow! feature.
CQ Press Guide to U.S. Elections (Reference JK1976 .G85 2005)
CQ Weekly CQ news teams cover virtually every act of Congress, delivering nonpartisan news and analysis. Each issue of CQ Weekly provide in-depth reports on issues looming on the congressional horizon, plus a complete wrap up the previous week's news, including the status of bills in play, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, committee and floor activity, debates and all roll-call votes. CQ Weekly Online includes an archive dating back to 1983. Search by topic, page number, committee, "exact phrases or words," bill number, byline or reporter and by Boolean full-text and date searches. Detailed floor votes dating back to August 1983 are easily retrieved.
Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy (Reference JX1407 .E53 1978) Essays by subject experts treat concepts and doctrines, policymaking, commerce and science, human rights and arms control, with specific articles on topics ranging from anti-imperialism to environmental diplomacy, from refugee policies to terrorism and countermeasures. Also includes a chronology.
Encyclopedia of American Political History, 3 vols. (Reference E183 .E5 1984)
Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, 4 vols. (Reference KF4548 .E53 2000) Contains new and updated original articles covering recent concepts (i.e. adoption, race, the Constitution, birthright citizenship) and court cases since 1992 offering comprehensive coverage of all aspects of constitutional law, as well as biographies of people who have had an impact on our government's legal framework (Supreme Court Justices, Presidents, Cabinet Members, Lawyers, and more). Also covers judicial decisions handed down by the Supreme Court.
Encyclopedia of the American Legislative System, 3 vols. (Reference JF501 .E53 1994)
Encyclopedia of the American Presidency, 4 vols. (Reference JK511 .E53 1994)
Encyclopedia of the United States Cabinet, 3 vols (Reference E176 .G89 2000)
Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations, 4 vols. (Reference E183.7 .E53 1997)
Federal Agency Profiles for Students (Reference JK421 .F42 1999)
Guide to the Presidency, 2 vols. (Reference JK516 .C57 2002)
How to Research the Presidency (Reference JK516 .M365 1996)
How to Research Congress (Reference JK1108 .M349 1996)
How to Research Elections (Reference JK1976.R4 M37 2000)
Major Acts of Congress An illustrated encyclopedia of congressional acts from the earliest days of the American republic up through recent years. Broadly applicable to students as well as general readers, this three-volume reference work is suitable for high school and college students, public library patrons, and professionals seeking comprehensive information on the legal statutes that affect all of us.
CQ Politics in America (Ready Reference JK1012 .C63 current issue) Contains detailed state and district information plus a wealth of information on campaign finance, partisan caucuses, standing committees, and other member data round out the book. Profiles include - Biographical data, committee assignments, election results, CQ Key Votes, interest group ratings, CQ Vote Studies, and contact information; explanation of the statistics used, detailed descriptions of congressional districts as drawn after the 2000 census, with maps and voting trends; vote percentage for president in each House district; Governors' biographical and contact data; State-by-state and House district demographics; Campaign finance statistics; and Party leadership posts
Presidents: A Reference History This classic reference work has been fully revised and updated to include the second term of the Clinton administration as well as the first year of George W. Bush's presidency. Each president and administration is thoroughly profiled by a distinguished senior scholar.
Vital Statistics on American Politics (Reference JK274.S74 2005-2006) Contains detailed state and district information plus a wealth of information on campaign finance, partisan caucuses, standing committees, and other member data round out the book. Profiles include - Biographical data, committee assignments, election results, CQ Key Votes, interest group ratings, CQ Vote Studies, and contact information; explanation of the statistics used, detailed descriptions of congressional districts as drawn after the 2000 census, with maps and voting trends; vote percentage for president in each House district; Governors' biographical and contact data; State-by-state and House district demographics; Campaign finance statistics; and Party leadership posts
West's Encyclopedia of American Law Provides current information on more than 5,000 legal topics. Includes completely revised articles covering important issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms and more. Covers such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, and physician-assisted suicide.
International Politics and GovernmentCountries of the World and their Leaders Yearbook Covering nearly 200 countries, this yearbook is filled with reports from the U.S. Department of State. Entries typically cover politicians, geography, defense, agriculture and trade. Includes information on passport applications, regulations and duties, international health and disease, national holidays and more.
Dictionary of the European Union (Reference JN30 .P495 2004)
Encyclopedia of the European Union (Reference JN30 .E52 1998)
Governments of the World: a Global Guide to Citizens' Rights and Responsibilities This wide-ranging, multidisciplinary encyclopedia describes and analyzes how the governments profiled affect citizens in the daily exercise of their rights and responsibilities. Arranged alphabetically and richly illustrated, Governments of the World features biographies and historical surveys on different types of political systems -- such as constitutional monarchies, presidential systems, democracies and dictatorships -- as well as entries on the governments of particular countries and on supra-national entities.
International Encyclopedia of Elections (Reference JF1001 .I57 2001)
Political Handbook of the World (Reference JF37 .P6 2007) Research tool for finding current, accurate political information on more than 200 countries throughout the world. Features extensive entries and analysis. The focus is on the political regimes and parties, not just country economics or short encyclopedic entries.
World Encyclopedia of Parliaments and Legislatures (Reference JF511 .W67 1998)
World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties, 3 vols. (Reference JF2011 .W67 1999)
Yearbook of the United Nations (Stacks JX1977.A37 Y4 1951 to present, latest in Reference)
Searching IUCAT for Books and PeriodicalsSearch IUCAT Catalog (Indiana University's online library catalog), to find books and periodicals (scholarly journals, popular magazines, newspapers, and other serials), or library materials such as music CDs, electronic resources, and videos. Materials at the Fort Wayne Helmke Library are designated by the library location FORTWAYNE.
IUCAT searches from on-campus computers will show only materials held by the IPFW Fort Wayne Helmke Library. To search all IU libraries, choose ALL from the Select Library pull-down menu on the search screen.
Sometimes IUCAT will lead you to articles in periodicals, but the most efficient way to locate articles is to use a periodical database or index to search many periodicals simultaneously.
Learning about IUCATSave time in the long run by investing a half-hour with our interactive Searching IUCAT Tutorial. It is an easy way to grasp fundamental search techniques and try your hand at practice searches designed to reinforce your knowledge. Also check our other IUCAT Guides for help in using IUCAT to your best advantage.
Choosing the Type of SearchUse the default Basic Search search option to find important keywords or phrases in an IUCAT record, in any order. Choose this search when you are unsure of the exact author or title of works on your topic.
Choose the Begins With (Browse) option from the box labeled More IUCAT Searches to find words or phrases exactly as typed, letter-for-letter, searching from left to right. Choose this search to find known authors or titles. Step 1. Enter term(s) in Title, Author, or Keywords Anywhere search boxes.
Step 2. Under Library, leave Fort Wayne Helmke Library as default, or change to ALL.
Step 3. Click the Search button.
Keyword Search ExamplesKeywords Anywhere will search for words anywhere in a record. This search is the default when the Enter key is used instead of clicking the button.
Example: (vot$ or election$) and (media or journalis$ or television)
Author will search for first or last names in any order in the author fields of a record. Included are personal names, organizations, agencies, corporations, conferences, etc.
Example: kissinger henry [finds works by Henry Kissinger]
Title will search for important words in the title. Do not use initial articles: a, the, la, das, etc.
Example: rights accused [finds The Rights of the Accused in Law and Action]
Subject will search for important words in the official Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH).
Example: affirmative action and (college$ or university$ or education)
Finding Periodicals in IUCATStep 1. Choose Periodical Title Search from the box labeled More IUCAT Searches.
Step 2. Enter the periodical title. Choose Keyword or Exact depending on the search you need.
Step 3. Select the correct record from the Search Results screen.
Step 4. In the IUCAT record look for the URL (for Electronic Resources available Online) or Holdings (for printed periodicals) to find what specific years and volumes are available at IUCAT's FORTWAYNE location.
Step 5. When the library owns the printed volumes you need, write down the call number and location. The call number and IUCAT Shelving Locations will help you determine where an item will be shelved in the library. Or if the resource is available online, follow the URL link to the full-text content.
Locating Books and Periodicals in the LibraryBooks, printed periodicals, and other library materials are shelved in Library of Congress Classification (LC) call number order. The call number and IUCAT Shelving Locations will help you determine on which floor of the library an item will be shelved.
Searching for Periodical ArticlesThe most efficient way of finding a high-quality periodical article , is to search a periodical database or index that provides descriptive abstracts, subject indexing, and often, the full-text content of articles. Check out the interactive Finding Articles Tutorial to learn the basics of choosing and searching the Academic Search Premier database. Below is a selection of databases useful for your course. For a complete list, see the library's Find Resources By... page. Select a resource by Subject, Title, or Type (choose Abstracts, Databases, & Indexes).
Databases for this Course
Academic Search Premier -       |
Coverage: Indexing coverage varies, with full-text content for some titles beginning 1975 or earlier, and most titles indexed from the 1990s. |
Brief Description: Provides abstracts and indexing of articles in more than 8,000 popular magazines, scholarly journals, and major newspapers in all fields of study, with nearly 4,000 titles available full text. |
Tools Available: A complete list of titles covered is available. |
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LexisNexis Academic - |
Coverage: Indexing coverage varies for the 6,000 information resources included, with full-text content for some titles beginning 1980 or earlier; most titles indexed from the 1990s |
Brief Description: LexisNexis Academic provides full-text access to nearly 6,000 information resources including newspapers, news magazines, wire services, and transcripts of major radio and TV broadcasts. |
Tools Available: LexisNexis Wiki for Higher Education: Academic has research help by topic and search tips. |
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LexisNexis Congressional - |
Coverage: Indexes Congressional documents 1817 to present and provides full-text of many Congressional documents, 1990 to present. |
Brief Description: LexisNexis Congressional provides comprehensive access to U.S. Congressional resources 1817 to present. |
Other IPFW Formats: IPFW library owns the printed CIS U.S. Serial Set Index, 1789-1969 (CIS U.S. Serial Set Index - Government Publications Reference Z1223.Z9 C65 1975). |
Tools Available: A searchable online guide is available. |
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Worldwide Political Science Abstracts - |
Coverage: 1975 to present |
Brief Description: The database provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of books, dissertations, films, software and international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, labor relations, and public administration/policy. |
Tools Available: An online list of journals indexed is available. An online database guide is also available. |
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Is Your Article Scholarly or Popular?University instructors often ask students to use articles from scholarly journals rather than from popular magazines for their research assignments. The following Is Your Journal Scholarly? (PDF) summarizes major differences between scholarly journals and popular magazines. Which type of source have you located?
What about Full Text?Full text means that the text of the article is available in PDF or HTML digital format. Graphics and tables are not automatically included unless the database producer has rights to publish them. Many of the library's licensed databases offer the full-text content of periodical articles. IPFW students, faculty, and staff now have access to more than 20,000 full-text journals. Find them in E-Journal Finder.
When an article you need is not available full text in the database you are using, choose  to see all of your delivery options. You may be able to access the full-text content in another database, request the article from another library through Document Delivery Services, or make a photocopy of the article if the printed periodical is owned by Helmke Library.
When a Resource is Not Available in the LibraryRequest Delivery is an IUCAT feature that allows IPFW faculty, students, and staff to request materials held by other Indiana University Libraries and to have them delivered to Helmke Library (see the IUCAT Request Delivery Fact Sheet).
You may also request any item that is not available at Helmke Library through Document Delivery Services (DDS). DDS borrows books and provides photocopies of periodical articles from other library collections. The service is free for IPFW faculty, staff, and students.
Using Government InformationThe U.S. government is an excellent source for primary research materials. Helmke Library has been a selective federal depository for U.S. government publications since 1965, receiving items in the categories of business, the census, commerce, defense history, education, health, justice, foreign affairs, presidential and congressional materials. Many federal government publications are freely available in digital format, and these resources can be accessed using IUCAT Catalog. The library's Public Information Reference Service (PIRS) provides research assistance as well as access to the wealth of local, state, federal, and international government information on the Web. The Allen County Public Library is also a federal depository library.
Searching the InternetFor some information needs, the Internet may supplement library resources. To begin an Internet search, try one of the many search engines on our Internet Search site. One that works well is Google, which ranks results by number of links leading to a site. The section on Subject-Oriented Tools includes directories that have evaluated and selected sites for specific subject areas, such as the Librarians' Index to the Internet.
Because the World Wide Web is a massive, tangled directory of knowledge producers, research, facts, and entertaining tidbits of information, you must be critical about the material you find there. Quality and validity are not assured when anyone can publish anything, anytime, without the benefit of scholarly peer review. There are many useful guides and tutorials to help you understand how to navigate and evaluate Web sites, including Is Your Web Site Credible?
Finding Internet Sites for this CourseFederal Policy Process The legal process begins with the introduction of a bill in Congress and ends with its interpretation by the federal court system. The legal process produces a series of government documents that constitute the governmental history of public policy in the United States. This guide summarizes both the process and the documents that are produced as legislation becomes public policy. A similar guide, Policy Making in Indiana: Processes and Information, outlines the steps and information resources related to policy development in the State of Indiana.
Resources for Political Science (American Political Science Association An important part of APSA's mission is to disseminate and share information about events, trends and developments in the discipline of political science. As the largest organization in the profession, APSA provides information on research in progress, key issues, discussion lists, etc.
Policy Making in Indiana: Processes and Sources This guide is a supplement to the Federal Policy Process and outlines the steps and information sources related to policy development in the State of Indiana. The legal process begins with the introduction of a bill in the General Assembly and ends with its interpretation by the Indiana or federal court systems. There is far less documentation of the legislative history at the state level than at the federal level. Therefore, it will probably be necessary to use secondary sources such as newspapers to determine legislative intent.
Political Studies Association Politics Gateway Launched in January 1995 the Political Studies Association Website has grown to an impressive collection of over 12,000 links to political information sources on the internetincluding information on elections, gender and politics, mass media and political resources.
Public Information Reference Service PIRS The Public Information Reference Service provides information by and about local, state, federal, & foreign national governments and international government organizations.
Style Guides and Useful Tools for WritingA variety of style guides are on reserve at the Service Desk on the first floor. These tools help you organize and write your paper, and format in-text references and bibliography lists. For more information, also see our Style, Publishing, & Writing Guides.
And Finally, Ask a LibrarianLibrarians and skilled information assistants are always available to assist you. Visit the Service Desk to meet an information assistant who will help you get started. You are welcome to make an appointment with Your Subject Librarian if you need more in-depth assistance.
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tritts@ipfw.edu
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
260-481-6513
Fax: 260-481-6509
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Summer Tritt M.L.S.
Reference & Information Services Librarian; Liaison to History, Political Science; Government Documents Coordinator
Helmke Library, LB 158 |
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| Created by: |
C. Truesdell |
| Date created: |
2002-01-28 |
| Revised by: |
L. Agne |
| Date revised: |
2009-01-15, 2008-02-18, 2007-02-22, 2006-02-28, 2005-02-28 |
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