Evan Fruehauf
Emily Norton
ENC 3246: Communications for Engineers
Welcome to the ENC3246 Communication for Engineers LibGuide! This guide includes key information and vital resources for your research within the class. While some content is built with novice researchers in mind, there are some advanced concepts presented within this guide. This is due to the research needs of your course, which will require you to do some investigating beyond the traditional "database search". Many students will need to investigate primary resources from local entities, which goes beyond the traditional research process many of us are used to. Through this guide, we hope you feel prepared to dive into any one research topic for your projects.
Additionally, several guides have been linked through the tabs on the left-hand side, including concepts like AI Tools, Citation Styles, and more. If you haven't explored those topics before, consider this a great starting point. The entire guide has been built from the ground up for this course by the librarians who support the class and its students. The goal is to provide focused research support for the unique needs of engineering students who are completing the course. Currently, Engineering Librarian Evan Fruehauf and English Librarian Emily Norton support ENC3246. Information can be found at the bottom of this page on how to get connected with them for help. Happy researching!
Starting Points
Establishing a Research Topic
Kickstart your research project by generating ideas, building up some context, and ultimately creating the research question that will start your project!Finding Books and Articles
Deep dive into the best methods for finding academic literature for your projects. Learn how to find the right academic article, pull a certain historical item, or request an interlibrary loan.Finding Primary Resources and Datasets
Within many Engineering research projects, finding primary resources and datasets that help support your project is vital. With tons of technical data, reporting, and information out there, it's key to fill out a research project with localized content.
Connecting with your Librarians
At the University of South Florida, each program is assigned at least one Research and Instruction Librarian to help both faculty and students conduct academic research. For ENC3246, R&I Librarians Evan Fruehauf and Emily Norton are responsible for supporting the academic research students are conducting. It's key to recognize that your research in this class could one day become a larger research project, something that could even be published! As entry-level researchers, it's vital to learn foundational lessons in research to become a more independent and capable researcher. As such, Evan and Emily have put together this guide for your purposes of supporting student research in this class and long term. If at any point you don't feel comfortable with a concept or idea, be sure to lean on your librarians for help. See below for a variety of ways to get connected to librarians at USF:
- Email your librarian directly
- Evan Fruehauf, MLIS - efruehauf@usf.edu
- Emily Norton, MLIS - emilynorton@usf.edu
- Ask A Librarian Service
- Between 10am-8pm, Monday-Friday, get a chance to chat virtually with library professionals who can assist with research and reference questions.
- USF Libraries Website
- Find a variety of resources, guides, and repositories to help guide your research. Be sure to sign in before using any paywalled databases of any sort.
- Stop into the Library
- Depending on the day, the USF Library at Tampa Campus can be open up to 24 hours. With caring staff who will happily assist in booking you a study room, showing you around, or helping you find a resource, you'll be in good hands. Be sure to check our hours before you stop in!