This guide is designed to introduce undergraduate students to "starting point" in all aspects of urban studies.
Pick a research topic
- Read your assignment instructions carefully
- Pick a research topic that interests you and meets the assignment criteria
- Identify the key concepts of your research topic
- If you need extra help, click on Choosing an essay topic
- Developing strong research questions
- Do some background reading on your topic using Wikipedia; watch the Using Wikipedia wisely video
Key reference sources for urban studies:
- Building smart cities: analytics, ICT, and design thinking
- Cycle cities: supporting cycling in Canadian cities
- Encyclopedia of the city
- International encyclopedia of human geography
- Inventing Future cities (print only)
- Key concepts in urban studies (print only)
- Megacities and our global urban future
- Urban Development for the 21st century
Search Omni, the library's main search box to easily find peer-reviewed journal articles on any topic. Remember to refine your search by selecting the following options: Peer-Reviewed Journals, Articles and Subject (optional) to obtain high quality, academic literature. Use the Omni Search Tips
You can also search databases by subject to find journal articles. They offer many advanced search features and offer a more focused search.
Key databases:
- GEOBASE
- SAGE Journals Online
- Academic Onefile
- CPI.Q
- Canadian Business and Current Affairs
- Scopus
- TRID
- Environment Index
- Web of Science
Key Journals:
- Annals of the American Association of Geographers
- Applied Geography
- Canadian Geographer
- City
- City, culture and society
- Environment and Planning B: planning and design
- International Journal of urban and regional research
- Plan Canada
- Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers
- Urban Geography
- Urban Studies
Search Tip: Search within a specific journal using Omni. Choose 'journal search' in the top navigation bar, enter the journal title or browse by journals by category on the left side menu. When you arrive at the online journal page, look for the "Search for articles within this journal" search box.
Recommended books:
- Cities for people, not for profit: critical urban theory and the right to the city
- Going Green: How cities are leading the next economy
- Critical Urban Studies: new directions
- The New Blackwell Companion to the City
Recommended videos:
Websites:
Canadian
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- Canadian Institute of Planners
- Canadian Urban Transit Association
- Centre for Human Settlements (University of British Columbia)
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities
- Institute of Urban Studies (University of Winnipeg)
Local Ottawa
- CAWI - City for all Women Initiative
- City of Ottawa - Partners and community organizations (by type)
- Ecology Ottawa
- Federation of Citizens' Associations of Ottawa
- Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital
- Multifaith Housing Initiative
- Ontario by Bike
- Women and Gender Equity Strategy
International Organizations
- American Planning Association
- Commonwealth Association of Planners
- Lewis Mumford Center
- Urban Land Institute
- Urban Institute
Writing
- Communicating in geography and environmental sciences
- Making Sense; a student's guide to research and writing: geography and environmental sciences RSV G74.N67 2015 (print only)
- Writing an annotated bibliography: link to the Youtube video or web page for instructions.
- Writing Services - located on the 4th floor of the library and offers students help with learning the mechanics of academic writing
Citing
Referencing or citing your sources is an important part of academic writing. Why?
- it lets you acknowledge the ideas or words of others if you use them in your work
- it helps you to avoid plagiarism
- it demonstrates that you are using the scholarly record and that you can provide authority for statements you make in your term paper
- it enables readers to find the source information
Geographers most often use APA citation style:
-
APA Citation Style web guide for basic instructions
Electronic Text Books
- BC Open Textbook Collection
- eCampus Ontario Open Library
- Mason OER Metafinder
- Open Geography Education
- University of Manitoba OER
Search Tip:
- Find Open Access books when searching Omni. When refining your search results, select the Open Access and Books filters (in left column).
