Writing Papers—What Library Resources Do You Need?

Encyclopedias

These are good tools to begin with if you are trying to find an idea, concept, or background information for your topic. There are two types of Encyclopedias. A general encyclopedia provides concise overview on a topic. A subject encyclopedia provides in-depth information focusing on one field of study.

For example:

• 辭海彩圖縮印本
  East Asian Languages Reference: PL1420 C6 1999
• 中國大百科全書
  East Asian Languages Reference: AE17 C48
• 大日本百科事典
  East Asian Languages Reference: AE35.2 D3
• 中國共產黨八十年珍貴檔案
  East Asian Languages Reference: JQ1519 A5 Z565 2001

Please also consult these "Print Resources" pages:

• General Works (http://print-general.php)
• Asian History (http://print-asianhistory.php)
• Geography, Anthropology, Folklore, etc. (http://print-misc.php)
• East Asian Language and Literature (http://print-langlit.php)
• Science (http://print-science.php)

Periodical Indexes

These tools point to citations of articles in magazines, journals, and newspapers that may have articles on your topic. If you are writing a research paper, periodical indexes are one of the best sources to use. You may use online periodical indexes from any Internet connected computer if the library has subscribed to the particular index you wish to use and in some cases if you are a valid university student, faculty, or staff member.

For example:

• 中國學術志目次索引 = Index to Contents of Chinese Academic Journals
  East Asian Languages Reference: AI19 C5 C577
• 中央日報近三十年文史哲論文索引, 1936-1971
  East Asian Languages: AC21 C47 Y8
• Periodicals Content Index (http://pcift.chadwyck.com)

Books

Books cover any topic, fact or fiction. You will need book information on one topic to support a particular argument. You can use books to find historical information, to put your topic in context with other important issues, or to find summaries of research to support an argument.

Please also consult How the Library Resources Are Organized (http://organizing.php) for information on The Library of Congress Classification System—Subject Outline (http://organizing.php#congress).

Periodicals

Periodicals (including magazines, journals, and newspapers) are published at regular intervals throughout the year. Magazine articles often are written by journalists or scholars and are geared toward the average adult. Scholars in an academic or professional field usually write journal articles. You will need journal articles more than magazine articles if you are doing academic or scholarly research.

You may use online periodical from any Internet connected computer if the library has subscribed to the particular periodicals you wish to use and you are a valid University student, faculty, or staff members.

Please consult East Asian Languages Collection web pages for:

• Current Periodicals (http://current-periodicals.php)
• Electronic Resources (http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/ul/research/subjects/index.php?heading=4)

Newspapers

Newspapers are a great resource for local or current information. You can often find these articles from the library's current periodical shelves or from the publisher's own web site or from library subscribed databases.

For example:

• Shi Jie xin wen wan 世界新聞網 (http://www.worldjournal.com/wjindex.php)
• Da Gong bao 大公報 (http://www.takungpao.com/)
• Lian he xin wen wan 聯合新聞網 (http://udn.com/NEWS/main.html)
• Zhongguo ri bao 中國日報網 (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/home/)

Internet

So far, most information on the Web has not gone through a review process and the information is not organized, not comprehensive, not permanent, and may not be free either. Thus, you should begin with library resources which are reliable resources you can use. Then move to the Web if you need more information or other points of view.

For western languages resources on Internet, please consult these web pages:

• Bibliography of Asian Studies (http://uclibs.org/PID/271)
• General Databases in the Humanities & Social Sciences (http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/ul/research/subjects/?heading=35)

For East Asian Languages resources, please consult this page in the Library:

• Subject Guides: East Asia Languages & Literatures (http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/ul/research/subjects/index.php?heading=4)

Writing Guides

You will need to consult writing manuals to help you to complete your paper.

For example:

• The Chicago Manual of Style
  Humanities/Social Science Reference: Z253 C57 1993
• MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing
  Humanities/Social Science Reference: PN147 G444 1998
• Also help at The Chicago Manual Of Style Online (http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org).

Specific Subject Search:

There are many Librarian Subject Specialists to help your research needs. Please consult the Librarian Subject Specialists Directory.