English as a Second Language Research Guide
Background Information
Start By Defining Your Topic
Identify the main concepts in your topic, phrase them as keywords
and try to think of synonyms for your keywords. Use Boolean
searching to formulate an effective search strategy. Try using
this search strategy
worksheet to plan your search.
Check the "help" or "search tips" screens of the database(s) you
are using to see which Boolean operators can be used.
If you need help, ask at the Reference Desk, 2nd Floor, Library
or Ask a Librarian CHAT.
Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research,
you may want to find one or more sources of background information
to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context
of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about
your topic. For background information on your subject, you can
consult reference books (eg dictionaries, directories, handbooks),
located on the 2nd Floor, Reference, or in the book stacks as
"Non-Circ." Some useful reference works for ESL and essay writing
are:
Canadian Oxford Dictionary 2nd ed. 2004 (2nd Floor, Reference) (also available online)
Canadian Style: A Guide to Writing and Editing (9th Floor, Library use only)
On-Line Academic Language Skills Workshops (Ryerson's English Language Support initiative)
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