ENVS 3400: Environmental Policy Guide

Overview

For additional help contact Michele Behr, michele.behr@wmich.edu (387-5611). Mike McDonnell, michael.mcdonnell@wmich.edu the Government Documents librarian, on 2nd floor Waldo (387-5208), is best qualified to provide in-depth help with locating government publications.

Typical ENVS 3400 projects include:

• Case study of a specific recent or ongoing environmental policy issue/controversy.
• Technical evaluation of an environmental policy question.
• Creation of a policy proposal to address an environmental policy question.

Whatever you choose as a project you will need to find out enough about the issue/problem to be able to describe it in context (pointing out where it is similar to and different from comparable cases), discuss the strengths and weaknesses of alternative viewpoints, actions and outcomes surrounding this issue, and make an evaluation (and possibly a recommendation) based on your findings. To do this successfully you need to use reliable information sources. The quality of the information you cite and your ability to present it in context will influence the strength of your argument, and your paper.

Don't just rely on the visible (open to the public) Internet. Some information will be available only via online or print sources that the Library has paid for. Use the suggested indexes below.

Some print materials will be in the library, you may need to order others through interlibrary loan.

The Basics

Searchpath is an online library skills tutorial for WMU students.
See also?Finding Articles and Finding Books.

Books and many government publications from 1976-current can be found by title or keyword searching in WestCat. Additional indexes are available in the Documents Department on the second floor of Waldo Library that the staff at Gov. Docs. will help you with.

Obtaining information from the web using a search engine such as?Google is not recommenced as a primary strategy because of the lack of quality control over what is put on the public Web. If you choose to use the public Web critically evaluate the information for accuracy, currency and bias. Guidance for doing this is available at:
Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages, Bare Bones 101: Evaluating Web Pages and Searchpath Module 5.

Some Suggested Indexes

Because of the range of possible projects topics and the complexity of these issues no single index will be appropriate for everyone, nor is a single index likely to provide all the information needed for any single project. Try several of these indexes and expect the information-gathering process to take time.

ABI/INFORM Global

An index of over 1,800 publications with abstracts, and full text from over 700 of these titles, selected from newspapers, trade publications, and journals on business including, for example, administration, economics, computers, finance, human resources, management, and marketing. Full-text of Wall Street Journal articles available from 1984. Otherwise coverage is from 1971 to the present with some older material available. Updated daily.

Columbia Earthscape

This interdisciplinary environmental database provides current environmental and public policy information from research institutions, government agencies, and other organizations. Continuously updated. To access from off campus, please set up a username and password from the Login page while on campus.

CQ Researcher

Explores a current news issue in-depth each week. Articles typically include an overview and background of the issue, pro-con essays on a question in the issue, a chronology, and lengthy bibliography. Coverage from October 1991 to present.

Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management

Multidisciplinary index with abstracts of journals, conference proceedings, reports, books and government publications in the environmental sciences. Coverage: 1967- present. Updated monthly.

• RefWorks Info: Imports checked citations directly into RefWorks.

LexisNexis Environmental (now included as part of Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management database)

This database has been integrated into the Environmental
Sciences and Pollution Management database.

Michigan Newspapers

Index to 75 Michigan newspapers including the Kalamazoo Gazette, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Grand Rapids Press, and more. Starting coverage dates vary from 1982 to 2007.

PAIS International (Public Affairs Information Service)

Indexes articles, books, conference proceedings, government documents, research reports, statistical directories, and more about public affairs worldwide. Coverage is from 1914 and is updated monthly.

Scopus

Scopus is a very large abstract and indexing database primarily covering scholarly literature in science and social science. Use this to get extensive inter-disciplinary access to journal articles and also to find out which articles are being cited by other scholars. Scopus includes 14,000 peer-reviewed titles from more than 4,000 international publishers. Coverage from 1995. Tutorial

• RefWorks Info: Scopus will export marked citations directly into your RefWorks account. (You will be prompted to login.)

Social Sciences Abstracts

Indexes over 600 periodicals in anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, feminist studies, geography, human services, international relations, law and criminology, police science, political science, population studies, psychology, public administration, public health, social work, sociology, urban studies, and related social science subjects. Coverage: indexing from 1983 and abstracts from 1994. Updated weekly.

Web of Science

Contains three major databases: (1) Science Citation Index Expanded (1900-present), (2) Social Sciences Citation Index (1956-present), and (3) Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1975-present). Cited Ref. Search allows users to search for articles that cite a particular author or work.Tutorial
Please LOGOFF when finished, so others may use the database.

Worldwide Political Science Abstracts

An index with abstracts to articles from over 1,100 international journals in political science and related disciplines. Includes book reviews. Based on the Political Science Abstracts from Plenum and ABC POL SCI from ABC-CLIO. Coverage: 1975 to the present. Updated monthly.

Article Indexes by Subject

For additional indexes by discipline (for example, medicine, biological sciences, chemistry etc.)

Selected Journals

Environmental Resources - MSU Libraries.

A gateway to environmental web-sites, with some on-line publications, compiled by MSU librarian Terry Link.

Global research Gateway - Environmental Science

Includes environmental policy related material.

Journal Finder (Find It @ WMU)

Find electronic and print journals available at WMU. Search for a journal title, browse journals by subject or collection, or look for a specific article if you have a citation (CitationLinker).

National Library for the Environment - Journals.

Maintained by the National Council for Science and the Environment as part of its National Library for the Environment.

Government Information

Catalog of United States Government Publications

Title or keyword search for government documents 1994-present. Includes links to full-text publications.

EPA Federal Register Environmental Documents

Provides access to Federal Register notices that affect environmental protection.

GPO Monthly Catalog (Government Printing Office)

An index to US government publications, including reports, hearings, debates, records, judiciary materials, and documents issued by executive departments, such as the Defense, State, Labor, and the Office of the President. Online coverage from 1976 - present. Updated monthly.
Print: Z 1223 .A13 - .A18 (Documents, Ref.) 1895-1995

ProQuest Congressional

Provides access to information about the U S Congress, including: 1) publications from 1789-present (with some full text in the Historical Full Text file); 2) Congressional Information Service Legislative Histories for public laws from 1970-present; 3) testimony from congressional hearings; 4) access to bills; 5) the Congressional Record and Federal Register; and 6) information about members and committees. Also includes unpublished hearings from 1973 to 1979.

ProQuest Government Periodicals Index

Indexes approximately 170 magazines and newsletters published by U.S. government agencies in a great variety of subjects with research value. Links to full text are provided when available. Coverage: 1988-present. Updated quarterly.

GAO Reports.

Contains all publicly released Government Accountability Office Reports from 1995 to the present, as well as approximately 85% of the publicly released reports for 1994. Full text online.

Guides to Government Information

Ben's Guide to US Government

A simple explanation to how the US Government is organized and operates for those who need a refresher course (and non-natives). Includes a helpful glossary.

International, Federal, State and Local Government Information Online.

Produced by WMU's Government Documents librarian, this is an access point to many specialized resources.

Writing Style Guides

Guide to Writing Styles

 Contains links to many practical examples for formatting citations in APA, Chicago, MLA, Turabian, and other writing styles. Examples include citations to both online or print materials. Call numbers for printed manuals are also given. Ask your instructor which writing style is required for your class assignment.

RefWorks

This citation management software allows you to import citations directly from electronic indexes and create and manage your own bibliographies. Use with word processing software to cite and format references easily in a variety of writing styles. You will have to set up an individualized account the first time you use RefWorks. An excellent tutorial is available in RefWorks under Help. Tutorial

University of Memphis Libraries' Brief Guide to Citing Government Publications

Provides examples of the elements needed to cite the most common examples of government document citations. Examples are based on the Chicago/Turabian standard bibliographic style. You may need to use a writing style manual to modify the citation to conform to the writing style you are required to use.

Kalamazoo River, Superfund & PCB's

Kalamazoo River Superfund depository documents are located in Government Documents, Waldo Library (2nd floor) under call numbers starting TD1042.

A risk-management strategy for PCB-contaminated sediments, (2001), National Research Council.
This is an illuminating book with an excellent bibliography. One copy is in general stacks, call number TD 878 .R57 2001 (Waldo, lower level), one copy in permanent reserve and one available online.

Kalamazoo River Superfund Site

This provides links to information about the Superfund process in general and the Kalamazoo River in particular (last updated April 2001).

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