Help:Contents
From CommWiki
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How do I use the Comm Wiki?
Browsing
One option is to browse the links (called "Categories") on the Main Page, which are roughly organized by School and by Type (databases, reference sources, etc). Other pages are listed in the Research Guides category. You will notice that many CommWiki articles are listed in more than one category. To see all CommWiki articles, try the A-Z index.
Searching
Another option is to use the search box in the sidebar.
- The "Go" Button
The "Go" Button is the default search method. If you type in a search topic and then hit the Enter key on your keyboard, the wiki will do a "Go" search. This search will search the titles of articles first, and will find any listings with the search terms in the title. For example, if you search for the phrase primary Sources and click "Go" (or hit the enter key), the wiki entry for Primary Sources will be displayed immediately.
- The "Search Button
The "Search" button works a little differently than the "Go" button. The "search" button will search the entire full text of the CommWiki. For example, by typing the phrase primary sources in the search box and then clicking "Search", the database will retrieve multiple results. One result will be for the article titled Primary Sources, and the rest will be for pages in the wiki where the words primary sources are mentioned somewhere on the page.
Using the right search terms
The CommWiki uses a fairly simple database structure, so the search interface may not be as powerful as you are used to. You do not need to add the word "and" between terms when combining terms. Also, there is not a way to do phrase searches in the wiki, such as by putting quotation marks around a phrase. Last, commonly used words (and, for, of, the, and quite a few others) will be ignored by the search feature. A larger list of common stop words, or words which cannot be searched, can be found at the Meta Wiki Help page.
Tip: It is important to think broadly about your topic when browsing wiki categories or using the search box.
Understanding wiki organization
Because the CommWiki uses the MediaWiki software, this wiki has to be organized in certain ways. Some of the organizational terminology cannot be changed, so definitions are provided below to make the wiki easier to use.
What is a category?
Categories are used to organize wiki articles by common characteristics. For example, a broad category is Journalism, which contains articles pertaining to journalism study. The link to an article's category(ies) will be at the bottom of the article, and clicking a category link will find similar wiki articles. Wiki articles are listed in more than one category, where appropriate. For instance, the article Radio and Television Broadcast Transcripts is listed under Journalism as well as under Media Arts and Studies.
What is an article?
In wiki terms, "article" refers to any page in the wiki that is added by a user. Articles are assigned categories to make them easier to find, and also show up in A-Z lists at the bottom of each category page and also in the master A-Z list linked to the wiki home page.
Research Help
For help with accessing or using any of the resources mentioned on the CommWiki pages, visit the Research Assistance desk on the 2nd floor of Alden Library's Learning Commons, or for a more virtual experience, use the Ask a Librarian service for contact with a librarian via IM chat, email, etc. If you are not affiliated with Ohio University, resources the same as or similar to those listed in the CommWiki as well as help from library staff are available at your local academic or public library.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
Contact Diana Nichols or Jessica Hagman, the Ohio University Librarians responsible for the CommWiki.
