Choosing a topic

When choosing a topic for your research paper, think about the following:

• Unless your instructor assigns a topic, try to select a topic that interests you.
• Make sure your topic is not too broad, or too narrow. You will find too much information when searching for a broad topic; and not enough information when searching for a narrow topic.
• If you already have a general topic, try searching the library's catalog or the library's databases for ideas on how to narrow that topic down.
• Visit the library's Reference Desk and request to view the following book: 10,000 ideas for term papers, projects, reports and speeches: Intriguing, original research topics for every student's need.
• For current events and issues in the news, try searching the library's database: CQ Researcher.
• For debatable or controversial issues, ask one of the librarians about the Opposing Viewpoints Series, the Taking Sides Series, Issues in Focus Series and/or the Current Controversies Series.
• Visit the Social Issues Research Guide. There you will find a list of current social issues to choose from.

Book Collections

Books will provide an excellent starting point for your research in the field of Environmental Science. Reference books often give you background information and a general overview on your topic so that you can proceed with greater understanding to a more detailed treatment of your subject in other books and periodicals. Reference books may include specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, atlases and/or statistical reports. The librarian at the Reference Desk can help in locating an appropriate source. Listed below are the titles and call numbers of some of the Environmental Science books in the library's reference collection. The reference collection is located on the main level of the library. Books with a location of Reference cannot be checked out of the library. The Circulating Collection is on the second floor of the library. Books with a location of Circulating may be checked out.

Library Catalog

The library catalog is used to locate books both at RVCC, as well as from other libraries in the Somerset County Library System. Books will provide in-depth information not found in reference sources.

Quick Tips:

• Start with a Keyword search. Once you find one or two books about your topic, check the book's record to see what Subjects are being used. Once you find the appropriate Subject Heading, repeat your search using those headings. Generally, the results from a Subject search will always be more accurate than the results from a Keyword search.
• If you know the title of the book you are looking for, do a Title search.
• If you are looking for a book with a specific author, do an Author search (last name first).

Suggested Subject Headings for Environmental Science:

Click a subject heading below to use it as the search term for a Subject Search in the catalog.

• Energy policy
• Environmental policy
• Environmental policy - Economic aspects
• Environmental policy - United States
• Global warming
• Recycling

Consult with the reference librarian to find the term best suited to your needs.

Browse the Collection:

Most of the books can be found in the following areas:

• GE -- Environmental Sciences
• HC -- Economic history and conditions
• QC -- Physics
• TD -- Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
• TJ -- Mechanical engineering and machinery
• TL -- Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics

All of the library's circulating books are located on the upper level of the library.

For additional library catalogs, including libraries in Hunterdon and Middlesex counties, consult the Additional Library Catalogs page. If you find a book in one of these catalogs that the library does not own, request the book using the library's Interlibrary Loan Service.

Research Databases - Finding Articles

The Evelyn S. Field Library has access to thousands of periodicals. (Periodicals can be magazines, scholarly journals, or newspapers.) Some periodicals are in the library's print (or hard copy) collection. However, the majority of periodicals are available in the Research Databases. These databases provide access to articles. This information is generally more current than material found in books.

Search for periodical articles on Environmental Science using the databases listed below. They can be accessed from the Library Database Page. (If you are using these databases from an off-campus location, you will be asked to identify yourself by logging in with your Username and Password. This is the same login you use on campus. The Research Databases are available only to registered RVCC students.)

• GreenFile
  

  GreenFILE indexes scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports. This resource offers a unique perspective on the positive and negative ways humans affect the environment. Drawing on the connection between the environment and disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology, GreenFILE serves as an informative resource for anyone concerned about the issues facing our planet.

• LexisNexis Academic
  

  LEXIS-NEXIS® Academic Universe provides access to a wide range of news, business, legal, and reference information, including news from over 18,000 newspapers, magazines and news wires and company financial information.

• ScienceDirect
  

  Our current subscription includes the "Social & Behavioral Sciences" and the "Health & Life Sciences." Be sure to select "group-wide login.

• WorldCat
  

  A catalog of over 61 million bibliographic records for materials held in libraries worldwide.

After finding an article on your research topic, the database will either provide a citation and summary of the article, or it will provide the full-text (the complete article). If you are only given a citation and summary of the article, you can check the Periodical Locator to determine if the periodical you are looking for is available in another database. (The Periodical Locator is an alphabetical list of all the journals the library has access to. Feel free to talk with a librarian for assistance.) If the article is not available in any of the library's research databases, request the article using the library's Interlibrary Loan Service.

If, for your assignment, you are required to have sources from scholarly journals, use the Identifying Scholarly Articles guide to help you determine if your source is a magazine article or a scholarly article.

Professional Organizations

• Association of Environmental and Resource Economists
  http://www.aere.org/
• Canadian Resource and Environmental Economics Study Group
  http://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca/~cree/
• European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists
  http://www.eaere.org/
• Institute for a Sustainable Future
  http://www.isfusa.org/
• International Society for Ecological Economics
  http://www.ecoeco.org/

Internet Resources

• Endangered Species Home Page
  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
  Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service
• Energy Consumption
  http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumption/index.html
  Source: Energy Information Administration, US Department of Energy
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
  http://www.eere.energy.gov/
• Environment and Development Economics
  http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=ede
• Environmental and Resource Economics
  http://www.wkap.nl/kapis/CGI-BIN/WORLD/journalhome.htm?0924-6460
• Environmental Protection Agency
  http://www.epa.gov/
  Source: Yahoo
• Environmental Science Network
  http://esn.osti.gov/esn
• ERN Environmental Economics Abstracts
  http://www.ssrn.com/update/ern/ern_enviro.html
• Global Warming (EPA)
  http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/
• H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
  http://www.heinzctr.org/
• National Energy Information Center
  http://www.eia.doe.gov/
• Population Topics
  http://www.census.gov/population/www/
  Source: US Census Bureau -- US and international population statistics
• Resources for Economists on the Internet
  http://rfe.org/showCat.php?cat_id=34
• Sustainable Development/Economics
  http://www.colby.edu/personal/thtieten/sustain.html
• U.S. Department of Commerce
  http://www.doc.gov/
• U.S. Department of Energy
  http://www.doe.gov/

Additional Help

• Call or visit the Reference Desk to speak to one of the librarians. The Reference Desk is located on the main floor of the library. The phone number is 908-526-1200 x8350.
• Email your question to one of the librarians using the Ask-A-Librarian Service.
• For further information about this guide, please contact Robert Egan

Last Updated - 31 March 2009