Mathematics 1218
Topics: The Joy of Mathematics!
Marge Peters . (630) 942-2337 . petersm@cod.edu
1: GET AN IDEA!
- Use 10,000 Ideas for Term Papers, Projects, Reports & Speeches. 2 copies at Reference Desk
- Browse topics in Theoni Pappas' books: The Joy of Mathematics (QA 93 .P365 1989), More Joy of Mathematics (QA 93 .P37 1991) and The Magic of Mathematics (QA 93 .P368 1994).
- Check the Library Catalog under the subject Mathematics to see possible headings: Mathematics, Chinese, Mathematics--History, Mathematics in Art, Mathematics--Psychological aspects ... Don't forget to look at the Related Subjects.
- Browse the QA book section on the upper level, especially QA 93 (except for QA 76, which consists of computer science)
- Really want to browse? Check out the on-line version of the Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics and Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society
- Check out the weblinks in the Mathematics Research Guide http://www.cod.edu/library/libweb/Peters/mathematics/mathematicsresearchguide.htm
2: USE BOOKS AND VIDEOS
3: RESEARCH YOUR TOPIC IN MAGAZINES, JOURNALS AND NEWSPAPERS
- Click on Article Databases.
- Click on Academic OneFile (InfoTrac)
- Type topic in search box and search. Watch for titles with "Text", "PDF" and, if Abstract only, "Library holdings".
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Can limit to only Full Text articles and Refereed Journals (research articles) .
- Other useful databases: Academic Search Premier and National Newspapers Simultaneously searches the indexes of the Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post
4: DIRECTORIES: Human-chosen websites, organized by topic
5: SEARCH ENGINES: Match key words via software "robots" or "spiders"
Google, Yahoo Search, or Teoma are good examples. See links from Library Home Page. Most programs only require the entry of all terms wanted--program returns pages that include at least some of your search terms. For a better search, use quotation marks ("....") around phrases: "magic squares"
6: OUTLINING: "How-to" Links
7: CITING SOURCES: MLA & APA Format
