Welcome to English at UB
The field of English involves study and writing in the areas of literature, language, and research (also called "letters"). English studies influence fields related to culture, philosophy, law, and the arts. Successful English majors typically go on to careers as writers, journalists, lawyers, editors, and scholars as well as experts in corporate communications, public relations, and marketing.
The nature of the field requires students to read and write at the highest levels; therefore, English students work to hone their skills in language, critical reading, and research to reach their audiences effectively.
The pages along the left side of this study guide provide library information and resources to support students of English in their work with literature, academic journals, film, and other resources.
Below, use the slides to review the Research Cycle and to access UB's databases using OneSearch.
Before you settle on a topic, it's a good idea to do some background research first. The library is a great source for background information!
Now that you've done some background research, it's time to narrow your topic. Remember: the shorter your final paper, the narrower your topic needs to be.
After you've refined your topic, it's time to start searching for sources. Do you need books, articles, court cases, news, videos, images? OneSearch can provide access to the materials you need. Start by entering search terms from your topic in the Search bar.
It's always a good idea to evaluate sources before using them in your assignment. Do you need to have scholarly sources or the most recent research?
Pull everything together to share your argument and your evidence. Tie ideas from your sources together with your own thoughts and analysis to make a compelling case.