The following guide is meant to assist you with your assignment: "Examining the relationship between law, social structure, and social change."
Note: you are invited at any time to consult with a librarian at the Reference Desk in McHenry Library if you can't find what you are looking for.
Step 1: Take a few minutes to read about your topic
in a sociology encyclopedia; this is an effective and time saving first
step in the research process. Encyclopedias can help you define
unfamiliar terms, understand the parameters of current debate in a
particular area of research, and provide you with preliminary
bibliography on the subject. The following are located on the Reference shelves behind the McHenry Reference Desk:
International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (Ref H41 I58 2001)
This 26 vol. set is a good place to begin; use the index for keywords related to your topic.
International Encyclopedia of Sociology (Ref HM17 I54 1995)
Encyclopedia of Sociology (Ref HM 17 E5 2000, volumes 1-5.)
CQ Researcher This reference source explores "hot" issues in the news in depth. Topics range from social and political issues to environment, health, education and science and technology. Each report is full-text and contains charts, graphs and sidebar articles, a pro-con feature, a chronology, lengthy bibliographies and a list of contacts. Also known as "Congressional Quarterly Researcher." Covers: 1991 - present.
Step 2: Locate published scholarly journal articles on your topic. This means putting your hands on scholarly journal articles that basically include:
a research hypothesis
a review of the literature on the topic
a description of the methodology used to gather and analyze data
FINDING ARTICLES (Use the Library'sOff-Campus Accessservice to access our databases and journals from home.)
The following indexing and abstracting online services can be accessed through the Library's Research website (http://library.ucsc.edu/research.html). Type the name of the database in the search window. There are many other subject specific databases to search, see a reference librarian for assistance.
Newspapers:
Lexis/Nexis Academic
This searchable full-text database is divided into five major content
areas: News, Business, Legal Research, Medical Research, and Reference.
The news section contains the text of many regional, national, and
international newspapers and other news sources. Coverage varies
depending on journal or news source.
Ethnic NewsWatch
Searchable collection of full-text newspaper and journal articles.
Available in English or Spanish. News, culture and history from the
ethnic, minority and native press. Covers: 1995 - present, some
historical coverage of 1960-1989.
Finding Journal Articles for this Assignment:
Sociological Abstracts
(Citations for articles from over 2,600 journals, books, conference
papers, and dissertations in sociology and related disciplines.)
InfoTrac Expanded Academic ASAP
(Articles from both scholarly journals and popular magazines.) Good place to start for the current debate on topics.
GenderWatch
A full text database of scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers,
newsletters, pamphlets, conference proceedings, and government reports
that focus on the impact of gender, men, and women across disciplines.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
The database provides citations and abstracts for journal articles in
political science, international relations, law, and public
administration / policy. Covers: 1975 - current
FINDING BOOKS
CRUZCAT
(http://cruzcat.ucsc.edu) is UCSC's local online library catalog. It includes materials at the McHenry
and the Science and Engineering Libraries and allows you to locate books, periodicals,
government publications, maps, music scores, films and more. CRUZCAT also provides
status information, e.g. if the material is checked out. It does not, however,
index journal contents or include the full text of articles. Melvyl® (http://melvyl.cdlib.org) is the catalog for all nine campus libraries of the University of California.
Check here for title of books and journals that UCSC does not own. The "Request" feature allows you to borrow materials.
Subject HeadingsThe subject headings on
each CRUZCAT and Melvyl record are linked to other titles in the catalog with
the same subject headings. Where is it in the
Library? See the How
to ... Use Call Numbers guide.
FINDING LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL MATERIALS:
Westlaw Campus
Web-based legal research tool for undergraduate and graduate students who need to research law-related issues.
Lexis/Nexis Congressional
This site contains bill tracking services, congressional publications,
congressional committee reports and testimony, Code of Federal
Regulations, Federal Register, Congressional Record, National Journal.
Also contains a "hot topics" section with the full-text of articles
from national newspapers on current bills and issues in Congress.
Recently added - Congressional Index 1789-1969. This segment of the
Website provides citations for Congressional reports, hearings,
documents, and journals. Covers: 1789 - present
CQ Researcher
This reference source explores "hot" issues in the news in depth.
Topics range from social and political issues to environment, health,
education and science and technology. Each report is full-text and
contains charts, graphs and sidebar articles, a pro-con feature, a
chronology, lengthy bibliographies and a list of contacts. Also known
as "Congressiona Quarterly Researcher." Covers: 1991 - present.
CQ Weekly
Searchable, browsable, full-text reports of issues currently under
debate before the Senate and House of Representatives. Includes status
of bills, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, committee and floor activity,
debates and roll-call votes. Also known as "Congressional Quarterly
Weekly." Covers: 1983 - current.
CQ Supreme Court Collection
Searchable, full text database of historical analysis with updates and
commentary of Supreme Court decisions, biographies of Supreme Court
justices, Supreme Court institutional history, and the U.S.
Constitution.
FedWorld: Search and View Full Text of Supreme Court Decisions Issued between 1937 and 1975
Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL) Cross-searchable
databases of official, unclassified U.S. Government policies or
positions on homeland security strategy, policy and research documents
published by federal, state and local government agencies,
international governments and institutions, research institutions,
universities, and think tanks. Also includes news and reports,
websites, and governmental and non-governmental databases. Source:
Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Postgraduate School.
WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER IN SOCIOLOGY
The Sociology Student Writer's Manual.
REF HM73.S637 2006
A guide to writing sociology papers.
REF HM73.G78 2001
Proper citation for footnotes, reference lists and bibliographies.Check the following "How to ..." guides:
Off-Campus Access service to access our databases and journals from home.)