Getting started on a longer term or larger group project? Research is a process and you'll want to keep a log of what you are doing so you don't reduplicate your work or miss steps or useful information. The research log below can help you with this.
Using the research log below (click File>Make a Copy), state your topic as a phrase or question, break it up into the main concepts you need to search, and think of keywords. Also think about what kind of information you need (background, peer-reviewed primary research articles, conference proceedings, foundation or think tank reports, etc).
Citations
How do I download it? | Click here | Click here to download desktop application and browser connector. In a hurry? Try Zbib for quick citing | No desktop application -- access it online here. |
How much does it cost? | It's free! (with costs for upgraded storage) | It's free! (& the library has a subscription for unlimited data storage) | The library pays for a subscription so that it's free to every W&M student/faculty. |
How much storage does it offer? | 2 GB cloud storage | 300 MB cloud storage (but unlimited on desktop application) | Unlimited |
Can it store articles (PDFs)? | Yes -- you can "drag and drop" and organize your PDFs into folders. PDFs are fully keyword searchable. | Yes -- you can "drag and drop" and organize your PDFs into folders. PDFs are fully keyword searchable. | No |
Can I use it to collaborate on a group project? | Yes -- you can create groups that then share documents and citations. | Yes -- you can create groups that then share documents and citations. | Kind of -- you can create a shared folder that other people can view, but not contribute to. |
Can I use it across different devices? | Yes -- it has a web platform as well as a desktop application, and they sync. | Yes -- it has a web platform as well as a desktop application, and they sync. | Yes -- it is entirely web-based. |
Can I use it to make citations & bibliographies as I write? | Yes -- you can download a plugin for Word or LibreOffice that will let you cite as you go. | Yes -- there is a Word and LibreOffice plugin that downloads standard with the desktop Zotero application. | Yes -- you can download the Refworks Citation Manager for Word or the RCM for Google Docs that lets you cite as you go. |
Does it let me annotate (write & highlight) articles that I have stored? | Yes | Yes | No -- does not store PDF's. |
Ref Z1001 .H33 2000
Harner, James L. On Compiling an Annotated Bibliography. 2nd ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2000.
Shelved at Swem Library's Research Desk.