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About this guide
This guide is designed to help you find resources and information for your Technical Writing research paper.
If you need help with library search tools or resources, just click the Research Help tab. For specific questions about your assignment, be sure to check with your professor.
Background research
You may want to start with some basic background research on your topic. Reference materials like subject-specific encyclopedias are great for this! These specialized references provide clear and reliable introductions, making it easier to grasp the basics.
To find an encyclopedia article on your topic:
- On the library homepage, search for the name of your technology in Search@UW. This should be short, only a few words.
- On the search results page, look for the Refine My Results filters, and select Resource Type > Reference Entries. You may need to click Show more to find it.
- Review the results, being sure to check the title of the encyclopedia or reference work and its publication date.
- If you don't see relevant results, try broader keywords. For example, instead of wind turbines, try wind energy or wind power.
Databases
Your background research should help you identify some of the key components of your paper outline: problems the technology solves, how it works, existing technologies or solutions to the problem, benefits of the new technology, and concerns with the new technology.
To dive deeper into these topics, use Search@UW on the library homepage or explore one of the databases listed below.
- Applied Science & Technology (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowApplied Science & Technology Source offers extensive coverage of research and development within the applied sciences and computing disciplines. It includes leading trade journals, professional and technical society journals, and conference proceedings.
- IEEE Xplore This link opens in a new windowIEEE Xplore is the flagship digital platform for discovery and access to scientific and technical content published by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and its publishing partners. It contains research articles, conference papers, and books in electrical engineering, computer science, and related sciences.
- Web of Science This link opens in a new windowIncludes all materials & subjects contained in the following databases: Science Citation Index®, Social Sciences Citation Index®, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index™. Find scholarly & trade articles, reviews, conference proceedings, and books & book chapters.
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