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BIOL 212 Evolution - Kai

Getting Started

Using the Library

BIOL 212 Evolution Using the Library

  1. When you're off campus, remember to log in to access library resources.
  2. Get help:
    1. In-person from a librarian at the Research Help Desk on the 3rd floor of the library,
    2. Online via email ( or chat,
    3. By phone at 760-750-4391, or
    4. Make an appointment with me.
  3. Finding a specific article. If your professor has given you the information for an article, find the full text by using the “Looking for a specific article” link on the library website.
    1. Click on the "Article" tab, fill out the relevant information, and click "Go".


Types of Literature

BIOL 353 Literature Terminology

Literature Terminology


Watch this tutorial to learn about the peer-review process.

Examples of different types of literature:


Terminology review




Electronic journal


Peer-reviewed journal article
A journal article that has undergone peer-review.

Primary literature


Literature review







Search Strategies

BIOL 212 Evolution Search Strategies

Information is messy and often hard to find because there are many tools and formats to deal with. When searching databaes, the library catalog, and the open web (Google), it helps to know some tricks to improve your results. Start with Advanced Search so you can get more options. Try the following when you search:

  1. Breaking your terms into concepts/keywords
  2. Searching by title
  3. Using phrase searching (with quotation marks) to keep terms together 

Consider the following:

What words should you use?

Think of what your main concepts are and try to narrow it down to that. For example:

“climate change” AND adaptation

“climate change” AND “extreme weather”

“climate change” AND mitigation

Watch this tutorial on how to search in the databases.


Biology Databases

BIOL 212 Evolution Biology Databases

BIOL 212: Finding Articles

For your research paper, you'll be expected to find information sources, or evidence, that supports your claims.  This evidence will be published in periodicals - news, magazine, and academic or scholarly journals.  These articles are found in databases.   Databases can have BOTH scholarly and non-scholarly articles. 

Biological Abstracts 
Coverage: 1969 - current

Academic Search Premier

Coverage: 1975 - current

Google Scholar

Click on "Get-It! @ CSUSM" to access our library journals

NOTE: If you are off-campus, you must log into Google Scholar through the library website or "Get-It" will not show up.

Other places to look: Biology Research Databases



CSE Citation Style (General)

What is CSE Style?

Each discipline uses a different citation style. In Biology, the most commonly used style is CSE. CSE uses three different formats: citation-sequence, citation-name, and name-year -- you will want to check with your professor to see which format they prefer.

Citation-sequence: Citations are  included in a numbered list at the end of the paper, in the order in which they appear in the text. Within the text of your paper, use superscript numbers to refer to the corresponding citation in your citation list. 

Citation-name: Citations are included in a numbered list at the end of the paper in a numbered list, in alphabetical order by author last name. Within the text of your paper, use superscript numbers to refer to the corresponding citation in your list. 

Name-year: Citations are listed at the end of the paper in alphabetical order by author last name, but not numbered. Within the text of your paper, cite sources by using the author's last name followed by the year of publication in parentheses. For example: Jones (2005). 

CSE Tips

CSE uses journal title abbreviations:

A couple of examples:

Journal Article


Newspaper/Magazine Article




CSE Guides & Resources

These resources may provide you with additional help and examples.

CSE Manual at CSUSM Library


Library copy (T11 .S386 2014)



Not sure how to write your citations?

Get started with this flow chart created by CSUSM librarians. 

How to Write a Citation: a flowchart

    Need Help?

    Talitha Matlin

    STEM Librarian
    Office Location: 
    KEL 3423
    Office Hours: 
    By appointment
