Research Help
Library Home > Research Help
Even the most professional scholars consult librarians when they get stuck. We exist to show you how to find original sources that will help you stand out from your classmates.
Students who need research support for a project are encouraged to book a consultation appointment with Nikki. Assistance is available for one person or for small groups.
- Help with Study Skills
- How to use NUcat to find books, dvds and more
- Subject guides
- Searching e-resources
- Citing / Referencing
Help with Study Skills
- The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) from Purdue University, USA, is a one-stop shop for help with writing projects, many geared toward the English as a Foreign Language community. OWL provides grammar support and writing tips for general, academic and creative student projects.
- StudyTrekk from Curtin University, Australia, provides useful tips on note-taking, public speaking and working effectively in groups.
NUcat
NUcat is the virtual home for items owned by Northwestern University Libraries, such as books, DVDs and electronic books. Limit your search to items from the Qatar Library by selecting “Qatar Library” from the drop-down menu titled, Limit to (optional), on the NUcat homepage.
Find books and DVDs with NUcat
Find e-resources with NUcat
If you're unable to locate an item you are looking for, we may be able to find it via inter library loan for you. Please ask!
We hope these core subject guides simplify your academic life. They contain links to resources that are specific to your areas of study and are excellent starting points for your research.
Journalism subject guide
Communication Studies subject guide
In addition, you will find excellent information in these links:
Radio / TV / Film New Media Current News and Pop Culture Freedom and Ethics Statistics and Data Historical News and Notable Speeches Writing and Editing Professional Associations
Searching E-Resources
The Library provides access to a large number of e-resources. The main types are:
- E-books (available via NUcat)
Find e-books in NUcat by selecting Electronic Resources in the Limit to: drop down menu on the NUcat search page. - E-journals
Titles of e-journals are best found by using ER: Electronic Resources as not all titles are listed on NUcat. - Northwestern Library Databases
If you are looking for articles on a subject, the Library Databases are the way to find these. Access our Library Databases via ER: Electronic Resources.- Google Scholar is an academic version of Google which indexes scholarly publications. It links directly to our library holdings and is a great place to start your research. Keep in mind that it does not search the subject-specialist electronic resources subscribed to by Northwestern University Libraries and that the Library Databases provide a broader range of key resources in your research area.
Add “Northwestern” to your Google Scholar Preferences for easy access to journal articles we own. Note that if you are off campus, you must use a VPN client. - Google Scholar is an academic version of Google which indexes scholarly publications. It links directly to our library holdings and is a great place to start your research. Keep in mind that it does not search the subject-specialist electronic resources subscribed to by Northwestern University Libraries and that the Library Databases provide a broader range of key resources in your research area.
You will be automatically directed to the NU Online Passport login page when you select an e-resource. Once you log in with your NetID and password you will be redirected to the electronic resource site that you originally selected.
Remember to also visit our subject guides for subject-specific resources.
Citing/Referencing Your Work
You must cite your work in two places: in-text and at the end of your paper, regardless of the citation style that you use. Be sure to verify with your instructor the required citation style. For more information on Northwestern University Definitions of Academic Violations, click here.
We recommend referring to these guides:
- APA (American Psychological Association) - thanks to Curtin University Library
- MLA (Modern Language Association) Guides - thanks to Purdue University.
EndNote Support
EndNote is a software program that allows you to store and manipulate your citations. With EndNote you can:
- Store references in one place
- Keep your reading notes linked to sources
- Download citations directly from e-resources
- Automatically format bibliographies and citations in APA, MLA and other styles.
