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This brief session will provide guidance on coming up with a thesis topic, searching for literature, understanding the body of literature and theoretical framework, identifying influential articles, and accessing relevant geography journals. Learn the steps to get started with note-taking and utilize useful databases for your research.
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The Graduate Student Toolbox: Getting Started Journals Databases Note-taking Matt Fry ENV 210F mfry@unt.edu
Questions this brief session will help you get started with: • How do I come up with a thesis/dissertation topic? • How do I get started searching for literature or articles on this topic? • What does ‘body of literature’ or ‘theoretical framework’ mean? • What journals should I be reading? • What are ‘Geography’ journals? • How do I know which articles are the most influential?
Getting started: • Talk to the professors in your department about your ideas ALWAYS bring a notebook and pen/pencil (or other note-taking devise)
Getting started: http://www.library.unt.edu/ • Use and book mark UNT library page:
Getting started: • Three useful databases: Web of Knowledge/Web of Science JSTOR Google Scholar • Also, the UNT library page
Geography Journals? • Journal Citation Reports: http://admin-apps.webofknowledge.com/JCR/JCR
Relevant Journals? • But there are more discipline oriented journals out there! • Talk to professors. ALWAYS bring a notebook and pen/pencil (or other note-taking devise)
Getting started steps: • Use your notes to identify topics and key words • Use databases to search key words • Refine key words as you go • Start building folders of article pdfs based on topics/themes/key words • Some of these will become the ‘bodies of literature’ or ‘theoretical frameworks’ you use in your thesis