PA 406: Asian Studies Senior Thesis Seminar
Interim Interdisciplinary Programs Liaison Librarian
- Daryl Alder
- Tutt Library 201
- (719) 389-6669
- Email me or Chat with me now
- Thesis Student Privileges
- Writing an Annotated Bibliography
- Writing a Literature Review
- Choosing Search Terms
- Finding Books
- Finding Dissertations
- Finding Journal Articles
- Finding Primary Sources and Newspapers
- Web Resources
- Managing and Citing Your Research
- Binding Your Thesis
- Thesis Help
Thesis Student Privileges – Library Carrels and Extended Loans
As a thesis student,you may reserve a library study carrel by filling out a form at the Tutt Library Circulation Desk. You may also arrange to check out Tutt Library materials for one semester rather than one block by contacting the Interdisciplinary Programs Librarian. To learn more about your privileges, visit the Thesis Student Policies page.
Writing an Annotated Bibliography
After exploring a topic and refining your thesis statement, you will want to compile an annotated bibliography. Useful guides include How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography from Cornell University and Annotated Bibliographies by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
Writing a Literature Review
Literature reviews take a critical look at the published works on a specific topic. To learn more, visit
- Literature Reviews from The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It from the University of Toronto
- Write a Literature Review from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Choosing Search Terms
Choosing terms that adequately represent your topic so you can effectively search catalogs, databases, and the Internet can be challenging. However, the following tips will make the process easier:
- Start by compiling a list of search terms that represent each concept of your topic.
- Use general terms when searching book catalogs. Book catalogs often have relatively little information listed on the item entry record, which makes it more difficult to match terms to item records.
- Use specific terms when searching article or full-text journal databases.
- Try boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to link your terms together into a single search.
- Watch out for additional terms that appear in your search results. Add these to your list.
- Search Google Books for terms that appear in the text of books as well as the title, table of contents, and subject headings.
You may need to do multiple searches in each database to thoroughly research your topic. However, with patient and persistence, you will find relevant material.
Finding Books
Once you’ve compiled your search terms, you can look for books in a number of resources such as TIGER, Prospector, and WorldCat.
TIGER Catalog
- Use Boolean searching (AND, OR, NOT)
- Truncate search terms using an asterik ( * ). Using the term opera* will search for all words that contain opera, including opera, operas, and operatic, to name a few.
- When you find a relevant author, use the AUTHOR search to find more works by that author.
- Use the SUBJECT links in a catalog entry record to find related works (e.g., Operas, Chinese — History and criticism).
For more tips on how to create effective TIGER searches, visit the Advanced Keyword Search page.
Prospector
Search Prospector using KEYWORD searches to find books held by libraries throughout Colorado and Wyoming. You will be able to request books that are either checked out or not owned by Tutt Library.
- Books arrive in as few as three business days.
- Prospector includes many public libraries and popular materials. You can make sure you’re selecting scholarly resources by looking for bibliographies and evaluating the publisher name, subject headings, and type of library that owns the book.
- If you receive an e-mail canceling your request, you may resubmit it or request the item through WorldCat .
WorldCat
Search WorldCat using KEYWORD searches to find books throughout the U.S. WorldCat can also help you identify library archives, primary sources, and Internet resources.
- Books may arrive in as few as five business days.
- WorldCat includes many public libraries. Evaluate items to make sure you’re requesting scholarly resources.
- In order to request books from WorldCat via Interlibrary Loan, you must be registered as an ILLiad user. Be sure to set up an ILLiad account before making a request.
Internet Resources for Books
- Search Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and Google Books for recently-published works on your topic.
Other Venues
- Ask for recommendations from your first and second readers in addition to your faculty advisors.
- Review the bibliographies and footnotes in the books, book chapters, and journal articles you’ve already found. These are a great source for gleaning relevant materials and authors.
Finding Dissertations
WorldCat
and Dissertation Abstracts
are some of the best places to find Ph.D. dissertations relevant to your topic. However, not all colleges, universities, and archives are willing to lend dissertations via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). If your ILL request cannot be filled, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator to request a purchase of the dissertation. Allow a week or so for it to arrive.
Finding Journal Articles
Since most Asian Studies theses are interdisciplinary in nature, the following databases will be most useful for finding relevant journal articles. As you search, keep these tips in mind:
- Limit Your Searches to Scholarly Articles
Many of the Tutt Library databases index only scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles, although some include articles from popular magazines. However, many databases allow you to limit your search to scholarly material. To learn more about whether or not an article is from a scholarly source, check out the Vodka Ad Test.
- Locate Full Text for Your Articles
If a database doesn’t offer full text, follow Tutt Link | Check for Full Text. This will tell you if the full text appears in any other databases or online journals at Tutt Library. If we don’t have the full text, you will be given the option to request the article through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). However, you must have an ILLiad account to make a request (see First Time User Registration for Interlibrary Loan).
If you have a full citation from another source, the fastest way to find out if we own the article is through Find Journals. You’ll see whether or not Tutt Library subscribes to an electronic version of your journal/magazine and which issues we own. If we do not have the full text of your article, you may request it by filling out an Interlibrary Loan Request Form.
Articles requested through Interlibrary Loan may arrive in as little as 24 to 48 hours. However, you must be registered with ILLiad to make requests (see First Time User Registration for Interlibrary Loan).
General Databases
Asian Studies Databases
- Asia-studies Full-text Online
- Coverage: N/A
- Full-text reports from research institutions covering 50+ countries in the Asian-Pacific region. Topics include business, government, economics, social issues, and the humanities.
- Asian American Drama
- Coverage: 1891 - current
- 250+ plays (some never before published) by 40+ authors together with detailed, indexed information on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more. Cross-searchable under North American Theater Online.
- Bibliography Of Asian Studies
- Coverage: 1971 - current
- Western-language monographs, articles and book chapters on all parts of Asia.
- The Encyclopaedia Of Islam
- Coverage: historical
- Offers basic searching of the full-text of nearly 12,000 pages of volumes I to XI and Supplement (Volume XII) of the print edition.
- Historical Abstracts
- Coverage: 1967 - current
- Covers world history.
- Index Islamicus
- Coverage: 1906 - current
- Indexes books, journal articles, conference proceedings about Islam, the Middle East and the Muslim world. Includes the other main Muslim areas of Asia and Africa, plus Muslim minorities elsewhere.
- JSTOR
- Coverage: late 1800's - most recent 0-5 years
- Archival access to many scholarly periodicals. Some titles include current issues while others have a moving wall imposed on them.
- Oxford Bibliographies Online. Buddhism
- Coverage: N/A
- Annotated guide to the core literature in Buddhism research, with topic overviews by experts in the field.
- Oxford Bibliographies Online. Hinduism
- Coverage: N/A
- Annotated guide to the core literature in Hinduism research, with topic overviews by experts in the field.
- Oxford Islamic Studies Online
- Coverage: varies
- Collection of authoritative reference works on Islam and global Islamic history, peoples and culture. Includes Quranic studies, timelines, maps, art, and learning resources.
- Project Muse
- Coverage: varies
- Project Muse Standard Collection of core scholarly titles from John Hopkins University. Offers current and back issues. Please note: we do not subscribe to the Premium Collection. We have access to most, but not all, Project Muse titles.
- South Asian Newspapers
- Coverage: 1864 - 1922
- Collection of newspapers published in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; languages include English, Bengali and Gujarati. When completed, this collection will provide 400,000+ pages.
Interdisciplinary and International Databases
Databases from other disciplines offer information related to Asian Studies, such as population statistics, economic reports and sociological studies. The following databases are some of the best bets for finding interdisciplinary material, but but be sure to browse Databases by Subject for other options.
Primary Sources and Newspapers
Web Resources
ANU Library Southeast Asian Serials
Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus
Asian Studies (WWW Virtual Library)
Association for Asian Studies: Links and Resources
Berkeley South/Southeast Asia Library Service (SSEAL / University of California-Berkeley)
CEI Chinese Law and Regulation (in Chinese)
China Economic Information Network (in Chinese)
China Elections and Governance
China Internet Information Center
China Military and Armed Forces
China Population Development and Research Center (CPDRC)
Congressional-Executive Commission on China
Country Studies (Library of Congress)
Digital South Asia Library (Center for Research Libraries / University of Chicago)
East & Southeast Asia: An Annotated Directory of Internet Resources (University of Redlands)
Global Resources Network (Center for Research Libraries)
Hong Kong Legal Information Institute
Internet Guide for Chinese Studies (Sinological Institute, Leiden University, Netherlands)
Modern Chinese Literature and Culture Resource Center
Online Resources for Chinese Studies in North American Libraries (Library of Congress)
PAIR (Portal to Asian Internet Resources)
Professor Sanjay Joshi’s Web site (Northern Arizona University)
Scholarly Associations on South Asia (Columbia University Library)
Scout Report (University of Wisconsin)
South and Southeast Asia Art and Archeology Index
South and Southeast Asia Video Archive (University of Wisconsin)
South Asian Women’s Network (SAWNET – women’s resource page)
Southeast Asia Digital Library (Northern Illinois University)
Stanford Guide to Japanese Resources (JGuide)
Managing and Citing Your Research
RefWorks
You can easily compile and format your research citations into footnotes/endnotes and a bibliography with RefWorks. Tutt Library has online RefWorks tutorials, an FAQ page, and classes every Wednesday at 1 p.m. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the librarians at the reference desk, tutors at the CC Writing Center, or contact the Interdisciplinary Librarian for help.
Citation Style
Tutt Library has plenty of copies of the Joseph Gibaldi’s MLA handbook for writers of research papers, and there’s also an online MLA Documentation guide from the University of Madison-Wisconsin.
Binding Your Thesis
For more information, see the Thesis Binding Policy.
Thesis Help
Thesis-Writing Guides
Tutt Library offers a number of thesis-writing guides, including the following:
How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper
LB2369 .L54 2005 (Tutt Third Floor; also in First Floor North – Reference)
How to Write a Thesis
LB2369 .T36 2003 (Tutt 3rd Floor)
Conquering Your Undergraduate Thesis
LB2369 .C64 2002 (Tutt Third Floor)
Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty
LB2369 .M377 2003 (Tutt First Floor North in Reference)
Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write, and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation
LB2369 .D85 2003 (Tutt Third Floor)
The Clockwork Muse : A Practical Guide to Writing Theses, Dissertations, and Books+
PN145 .Z47 1999 (Tutt North Basement)
To find additional related books, search the TIGER Catalog using the following SUBJECT search terms:
Liaison Librarian
Contact Daryl Alder, Interim Interdisciplinary Programs Librarian, x6669, Tutt Library 201
dlindsay-alder@coloradocollege.edu, IM=tuttalder
Writing Center
The Colorado College Writing Center, located in the Tutt Library Learning Commons, offers one-on-one consultations for student writing projects. To learn more about services, contact the Writing Center.
Library Departments
Reference Desk, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., x6662, IM=tuttlibrarian
Interlibrary Loan Coordinator Diane Brodersen, x6664, email.
Circulation Desk, ×6184, email.