Library Reference Assignment

[last update: 2/14/04]

1. Identify a topic for research for Writing Assignment #2 (see syllabus p. 5 for details about Writing Assignment #2).
2. Locate two (2) pertinent and reliable references for your research paper. Identify one peer-reviewed article (preferable via PubMed or Expanded Academic) and one books or .gov website.
3. Type the reference in APA reference format. APA formatting is specific and unforgiving; do not guess how to format your references! Click here or here for details concerning APA style. 
4. Under each reference, write a brief summary describing how you found the article. Was it uncovered by a data base (e.g., Medline) search? If so, which database was  used? Was it referenced in another source? In addition, describe how you located the source. Did the SJSU library have it in hard copy form? electronic form? where in the library was the journal/book located? Did you have to use Interlibrary Loan? Describe how the reference is relevant to your research paper. 

Example 

Crawford, E. D. (2003). Epidemiology of Prostate cancer. Urology, 62(6 Suppl 1): 3-12.

The article was identified by searching PubMed with the terms "prostate cancer rates African American male." The SJSU library had a subscription to the electronic version of this journal via ScienceDirect Elsevier Science Journals. Using the proxy server, I was able to view and printed the this article in pdf form. This article is relevant to my research topic (Prostate cancer in African American males) because it has informatin about  prostate cancer rates and risk factors. The article says prostate cancer is epidemic in African American males.