CHEE 456 - Design 1

Where to Find References to Journal Articles

The 3 databases listed above only provide references to articles that are from peer-reviewed scholarly journals. 

Looking for more references to articles on a topic?  Visit the Chemical Engineering subject guide for a list of other databases you can search.

Search Tips – Basic Principles of Online Searching

1-    Define your question.
       e.g., Is pyrolysis an effective method for recycling scrap rubber?

2-    Identify the appropriate source(s) to search.
       e.g., Compendex (see above for list of possible databases)

3-    Break down the question into its separate concepts.
       e.g., Is pyrolysis an effective method for recycling scrap rubber?

4-    Brainstorm synonyms.
       Consider synonyms/related terms for each concept (e.g., rubber OR tires) and variant word endings (e.g., recycl* for recycle, recycles, recycling, recyclable, recyclables).

5-    Combine search terms (AND/OR).
       e.g., pyrolysis AND recycl* AND (rubber OR tire*)

6-    If too many results, consider applying limits.
       e.g., limit search results to references published in the past 5 years

7-    Evaluate your results & modify your search strategy if necessary.
       e.g., look at the title, abstract, author keywords, or subject headings of a relevant result to pick out additional terms that you can use to revise your search

How to Locate Journal Articles or Books

Look for the Find It @ button when searching databases.  Click on this button to link to our catalogue.

Search the McGill Library Catalogue to find journals or books, whether in print or electronic format.

• For Journals: Choose "Journal Title begins with..." and enter the title of the journal in which the article is published.  
• For Books: Choose "Title begins with..." and enter the title of the book you are interested in.

How to Obtain Materials Not Available at McGill

McGill students and staff may order articles and books that are not available at McGill using COLOMBO.  Please do not wait until it is too late for us to help you with COLOMBO.

Using Endnote to Cite Your References

EndNote is computer software that allows you to:

•          save references from database and web searches

•          organize your references into different folders

•          cite references within a text document and automatically create a bibliography

McGill students and staff can visit http://www.mcgill.ca/library/services/citation/software/endnote to download the software for free.  There are library workshops given throughout the year on how to use this software effectively.