Writing 120J: Finding Home

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Research Librarian

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Contact:

Rolvaag 303

507.786.3793

Subjects: American Studies, Business and Management Studies, Classics, French, German, Greek, History, Latin, Linguistic Studies, Middle East Studies, Norwegian, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, Spanish

If You Need Assistance

Welcome to the online research guide for Writing 120J

Hello! My name is Ken Johnson and I am the librarian working with your First Year Writing course this spring.

What is a Research/Instruction Librarian (my job description)?
Research/Instruction Librarians visit your class to teach you about the resources available to you in the St. Olaf Libraries and beyond, and teach you how to go about doing research. We also assist you once you are working on your projects and can help you find materials, help you brainstorm your topic, and help you with citations. Our primary goal is to help you succeed!

You can use the "Request research consultation" link in my profile on the left side of this page. Just pick a date and time you can meet with me and fill out the form. You will be able to see if it is a day that I will be on campus in which case you can meet with me in person if you wish. Otherwise, if I am working from home or if you prefer meeting virtually, you will get a calendar invitation with a Google Meet link in it. The form allows you to upload any work that you would like me to see before our appointment.

Types of Sources, Primary and Secondary Sources, and Popular and Scholarly Articles

Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary vs. Secondary Sources
A guide from American University in Washington D.C. about the differences between Primary and Secondary Sources, and examples on when Secondary Sources become Primary Sources

Keep Track of Your Searches

Keyword/Database Tracker
This sample Google Spreadsheet illustrates one method of keeping track of your keyword searches. See the "Example Sheet" (linked at the bottom of the page) for an example of how you might write your notes. To make a copy of this file and use it for your own notetaking, click File > Make a Copy, then save your copy to your Google Drive.