Class Guide » IME 1020: Technical Communications

Overview

The library has many resources, including guides and compilations of online links that can help with your assignments for this and other classes. Contact the Science Reference desk, 387-5141 or the Science/Engineering Librarian Edward Eckel for additional help.

College-Level Research

Doing research at the college level requires that you: define the kind of information you need, decide where and how to look for it, evaluate what you find, select what is useful and cite it appropriately in your own work. Searchpath gives you the basic understanding and skills to start working at this level.

Searchpath Tutorial This interactive library skills tutorial covers the research process from start (broadening or narrowing a topic) to finish (citation styles) and includes practice searching on WestCat, an article index, and the Web.
Searchpath is divided into six modules, each of which takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Each ends with a quiz, and the quiz results may be emailed to your professor or saved within Searchpath as proof of completion. If you want Searchpath to save your quiz results, you must use the link above to enter, and login as a First Time User. If you leave and later come back to the tutorial, login as Return User. Check with your instructor if the class and instructor's name is not listed.

Introduction to Engineering Information

These two short (5 minute) videos describe the main characteristics of engineering journals and trade magazines. There is audio that comes with them, so make sure to turn your sound up.

Searching for Journal Articles for Your Research Paper

Applied Science and Technology Abstracts. (ASTA) This database focuses on engineering trade magazines and scholarly journals.

Searching ASTA A short video introduction. Select the part(s) you want to view.

Ei Compendex (a.k.a. Engineering Village) - The broadest engineering database in terms of coverage, Compendex focuses on scholarly engineering journals and conference papers, however you may find citations to the occasional trade magazine article.

The following engineering subject guides will give a more complete listing of online databases for specifc engineering disciplines.

Using Interlibrary Loan

If the library does not provide online or print access to an article you would like you can request a free Xeroxed copy. Click on the ILL (interlibrary loan) option from the gold Find it @ WMU button in the article index. Allow about one week for article delivery. To activate this service you will first need to fill out the one-time interlibrary loan registration form.

Citing Sources

APA style includes information about correctly citing electronic (online) sources such as web sites and publications.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 5th Edition: A Brief Guide A brief overview of how the most commonly used types of references should be cited using the APA (American Psychological Association) bibliographic style. For more complete information, consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (BF 76.7.P83 2001); copies are available at all WMU libraries' reference desks.

Journal Analysis

Browse the current periodical shelves in the call number area of your field for some representative publications.

Refer to Engineering Call Numbers by Discipline or perform a guided keyword search in WestCat for your discipline AND "periodicals" (e.g. aviation AND periodicals) and note the call number area(s).

Information about the scope of a journal (including if it is peer-reviewed) is often found inside the front or back cover. A January or December issue may be the best if this information is given infrequently.

Web Site Analysis

Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages Provides guidance for evaluating the quality of Web information.

Searchpath Module 5 When and how to search the Web effectively, and how to evaluate the retrieved information.

Bare Bones 101: Evaluating Web Pages Provides guidance for evaluating the quality of Web information.

Career Report

You might want to start with the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

WMU's BroncoJobs supplies information and useful links.

Jobs & Careers in the General Engineering Subject Guide gives some sites that specialize in engineering careers.

Company Information

Before writing to or visiting a company get some background information, such as address, names of key personnel, nature of the business, sales figures etc.

Hoover's Online
This business directory lists public, private, international and emerging company profiles with links to company Web sites, as well as other business related links. Only parts of this directory are available to us as nonsubscribers. The full text of Hoovers is found in the databasae LexisNexis Academic.

Standard & Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives: A three volume set. The first volume describes more than 55,000 U.S. and some Canadian or international companies, about 45,000 of, which are private. For each it usually gives officers, line of business, SIC codes, sales range, number of employees, the company's accounting firm, primary bank and law firm, stock exchange symbol. It includes some subsidiaries listed separately from the parent company. The second volume is a listing of over 70,000 executives and directors, with brief data about each. Volume three contains the following indexes and lists: index of companies by SIC code; by geographic location; list of companies added for the first time; list of individuals included for the first time; corporate family indexes (cross-reference index for subsidiaries listed in vol. 1, and a listing of ultimate parent company); an obituary section.
Desk Collection HG 4057 .A4

CAROL: Company Annual Reports On Line
Includes annual reports for companies in the US, Europe and Asia. Also links to other investor information sources, such as news, professional organizations, and foreign stock exchanges. Access is free, but you have to register to see annual reports.

Ask A Librarian

Edward Eckel, E-mail: edward.eckel@wmich.edu
Phone: 269-387-5140
Last updated: February 2008