**How to Write a Thesis: A Practical Guide to Literature Search**
Many students need to access a large amount of foreign literature when writing their thesis. In the natural sciences, searching for English literature is often done through platforms like Elsevier, Springer, and others. Although these databases contain a vast number of articles, sometimes you may come across documents that are not available in your university or research institute's collection. What should you do then?
Don't worry — this chapter, led by Senior Professor Shanghai Jinma, will teach you how to find the literature you need.
Our ELISA kit has more than 1,300 references, including over 290 SCI-indexed articles and more than 1,100 domestic core journals and doctoral theses. As of February 2015, the total number of articles in the ELISA kit exceeds 1,030, with over 500 SCI articles, including high-quality publications in renowned international journals such as *Nature*, *PNAS*, *Immunity*, *Diabetes*, *J Biol Chem*, and *PLOS ONE*.
Here are some of the cited articles:
1. Du, C., et al. *MicroRNA miR-326 regulates TH-17 differentiation and is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis*. *Nature Immunology*, 2009, 10(12): 1252–1259 (IF: 26.008)
2. Cited product: Mouse TGF-β1 ELISA Kit (Shanghai Genetimes Company, China)
3. Genetimes ELISA is an original brand of ExCell Biology.
4. Tang, Y., et al. *Ginkgolide B promotes proliferation and functional activities of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells: involvement of Akt/eNOS and MAPK/p38 signaling pathways*. *European Cells and Materials*, 2011, 21: 459–469.
5. Cited product: Human VEGF ELISA Kit (Excell, Shanghai, China)
### How to Retrieve Documents
1. **Search on Google Scholar**: Start by using Google Scholar. It often helps you find the document you're looking for. You might see "Every group" or similar terms, and clicking them can lead you to the full text. While it’s not always guaranteed, it’s a useful starting point. Additionally, Google Scholar shows citation counts, which can help you identify influential papers. If you search by author, you'll see all their works ranked by citations, making it easier to find the most impactful ones.
2. **Search on Regular Google**: If Google Scholar doesn’t work, try searching on regular Google. Many foreign authors post their full-text articles (PDFs) directly on their personal websites. Some universities also host PDFs of academic publications online. Searching by title or author can lead you to free access.
3. **Contact the Author Directly**: If the above methods don’t work, consider sending an email to the author. Most researchers are happy to share their work, especially if you ask politely. Authors from English-speaking countries are more likely to respond, while those from non-English speaking countries may be less responsive. Always make sure to thank them for their time.
4. **Use Online Communities**: Posting on forums like ResearchGate or smallwoodworm (a Chinese academic platform) can also help you get access to hard-to-find papers. Another option is to ask your library administrator to request the article from another institution. Some libraries may charge a small fee, but this is usually covered by your research budget.
### How to Stay Updated with the Latest Research
Staying up to date with the latest scientific developments is crucial. Many databases, such as Elsevier, offer an “Email Alert†feature. By registering your email address, you’ll receive notifications whenever new articles are published in your area of interest. This is a great way to stay informed without having to manually check the database every day.
### How to Read and Analyze Literature
Reading scientific literature is a key part of any research project. Don’t just read passively — engage with the content. Some parts may be difficult to understand at first, but as your knowledge grows, you’ll gradually grasp more. When reading, take notes, highlight important sections, and organize the information in a Word document. This will make it easier to reference later, especially when writing your own paper.
I also recommend translating key passages into Chinese and keeping them in a dedicated notebook. This not only helps when writing your thesis but also improves your language skills and communication abilities.
Finally, remember that science is about critical thinking. Don’t blindly follow authority — question everything. The goal is to improve your understanding, not just to collect references.
**Follow Shanghai Jinma Biology for more tips and tricks!**
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Stay curious, keep learning, and never stop exploring the world of science.
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