Above, Below, and on Either Side

By | November 5, 2009

The Turabian handbook is well-known to students as a guide for writing research papers, theses, and dissertations.  Within another few weeks, I ‘ll have read it cover to cover.  Tonight I read this sage piece of advice on finding books on your topic:

If you ‘re allowed in the stacks (where all the books that you can check out are kept), find the shelf with books on your topic.  Then scan the titles on that shelf and the ones above, below, and on either side.  Then turn around and skim titles behind you; you never know (7th ed., p. 31).

It just struck me as ridiculous that a book would need to tell students to browse the bookshelves in search of related resources.  I guess the writers must have had students who never figured this out.

One thought on “Above, Below, and on Either Side

  1. jenn

    Honestly, I remember really learning this tip from you in a class held in the IBEX library. I’m sure I used this technique sometime before that in my research, but your session on how you do research and write a paper was really helpful, practical, and impactful.

    Reply

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