How to Set Up Academic Tools for Success (Google Scholar, Zotero, etc.)

Part 1: Setting Up Google Scholar 

1. Access Google Scholar: 
   • Navigate to Google Scholar. 
   • Sign in with your Google account to customize settings. 
2. Update Library Settings: 
   • Click the Menu (☰) icon and select Settings > Library Links. 
   • Search for your university in the Library Links section (e.g., “Capitol Technology University”) and select it. 
   • Save changes to enable access to full-text articles through your university’s library. 
3. Customize Your Profile: 
   • Go to Settings > Account to add research interests and set up email alerts for relevant topics. 
   • Save your changes. 

Part 2: Installing and Configuring Zotero 

1. Download Zotero: 
   • Go to Zotero.org and download the Zotero desktop application and browser connector. 
   • Follow the installation instructions for your operating system. 
2. Set Up Zotero: 
   • Open Zotero and create an account by clicking Register or sign in if you already have one. 
   • Configure Preferences > Sync to back up your library to Zotero’s cloud service. 
3. Organize Your Library: 
   • Create folders for your projects or research topics by clicking the + New Collection button. 
   • Add references manually or use the browser connector to save articles directly from websites. 
4. Add Citation Styles: 
   • Go to Edit > Preferences > Cite and select your preferred citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). 
   • Download additional styles from the Zotero Style Repository if needed. 

Part 3: Other Academic Tools 

1. Mendeley (Optional): 
   • Download and set up Mendeley as an alternative to Zotero for reference management. 
   • Sync your library and organize references similarly to Zotero. 
2. Grammarly: 
   • Install the Grammarly browser extension or desktop app to improve your writing and grammar. 
3. Google Drive and Docs: 
   • Organize research materials in Google Drive. 
   • Use Google Docs for collaboration and citation management (compatible with Zotero).