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BIOL 210: Session Introduction

For all students taking Biology: Concepts and Methods.

+Assignment and research approach

Sometimes, a structured approach to research can help to organize ideas and the way you think about information sources.  This guide has four main tabs to help you find the information you are looking for:  

1. Explore topic basics (Keywords)
 
2. Current scientific scholarly conversations  (Find Articles)
 
3. Support your argument (Cite Sources)
 
4. Drafts & revisions (Research & Writing Help)

 

Types of Scientific Literature

Primary Literature Secondary Literature
  • Tertiary Literature
  • Original research and/or new discoveries!
  • Research activities that have immediate results.
  • Data analyses from information collected in the field or generated in the lab.
  • Summaries of someone else's original research article.
  • A book covering scientific research that has happened in a specific area.

 
  • Condensed versions of materials under a single subject heading.
  • A piece that references primary or secondary literature sources.
  • "Overview" materials that summarize an entire subject in just a few pages.

EXAMPLES:  

Peer-reviewed & published journal articles

Dissertations (Example - for your PhD)

Technical reports

Conference Proceedings

EXAMPLES:  

A review of current trends in _____ (genetics; neurobiology; virology; etc.)

Books

EXAMPLES:

Textbooks

Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

Wikipedia

"Facts on File" type sites