In the advent of the digital age, a vast array of academic resources—journals, books, and proceedings—are all intangibly stored for convenience online. However, this unprecedented access to information can feel overwhelming for students. Where and how does one begin to conduct research?
To provide a concrete answer to these very questions, Seoul National University’s library regularly offers workshops, both online and in-person, specifically tailored to meet the needs of its student body. Of the many workshops led by SNU’s librarians, each month features four to six recurring staples: instructions on using EndNote, a guide to prior research, and an “A to Z” on dissertation writing, among others. Special workshops are additionally provided in a speedy response to student requests. In August alone, there were specific workshops breaking down the Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and the Political Science Complete Database. Broader workshops covered topics such as the style of advanced academic writing and the effective use of e-books in academia. As evident, the library’s workshop program is accessible year-round, so that students have the tools to strengthen their research and academic skills at any given time.
August 2024 library workshop schedule
A Monthly Workshop: A Step-by-Step Guide to Dissertation Research and Writing
“An ‘A to Z’ on Dissertation Writing” is the name of one monthly workshop led by SNU’s librarians. This hour-long session provides a precise breakdown of every step of the academic research and writing process. It outlines the essential components of the dissertation, including topic selection, data collection, theoretical research, and deciding on a method of analysis or research protocol.
In the session, a tutorial is delivered on how to effectively access and utilize academic resources, offering a detailed guide to navigating the database inventory available through the SNU library website. Students can easily filter an extensive magnitude of content by specifying their choice of academic discipline or type of source material. Moreover, the tutorial includes general guidelines on refining search keywords, such as through the use of operators when exploring other databases to which the library subscribes.
Beyond the research and writing process, properly crediting sources is a fundamental pillar of a successful dissertation; it upholds the academic integrity of one’s work through the acknowledgement of all that has contributed to it. As such, “An ‘A to Z’ on Dissertation Writing” outlines the most commonly used citation methods, highlights certain key differences between them, and provides information on where one can find the exact rules of each method. Not only that, but SNU’s librarians introduce various plagiarism detection software that students can utilize to ensure that they do not unintentionally violate scholarly ethics at any stage of their writing process. Thus, SNU equips its students with the necessary knowledge to produce work that is both technically stellar and academically legitimate. This deep commitment to integrity is an uncompromising value that students will certainly carry into their future endeavors, whether in academia or beyond.
As a whole, the SNU library ensures that students can fully benefit from the vast resources that are readily available at their fingertips. Navigate your academic journey with confidence and ease by exploring the many workshops and other educational tools that the library has to offer.
Written by Hee Seo Lee, SNU English Editor, heeseolee@snu.ac.kr