Finding Sources
Commonly Used Databases The following databases provide articles and various media:
• Academic Search Complete: provides newspaper & scholarly journal articles • CQ Researcher: reports on current issues with lots of listed sources • Global Issues in Context: focuses on broad issues • Issues & Controversies: reports (pro/con) on current issues • Opposing Viewpoints in Context: provides various media on current issues • SIRS Knowledge Source: provides various media (articles, graphs) on current issues • Nexis Uni: provides newspaper articles & other news sources • Gale Virtual Reference Library: provides encyclopedias, almanacs, and reference sources
*These links are through Delgado’s Library. If you are off campus, you will have to log in to access them. Click here for instructions on how to access these databases off campus. If you are on campus, you will be taken directly to the databases.
* Please also visit the library research guide for English: Click Here. How to Use a Search Engine Most databases offer similar search options. To conduct a fruitful search:
• Determine what you need to know. Develop a few open-ended questions to guide you. Research is a discovery process, so keep an open mind as you search.
• Choose several keywords related to your topic. Databases will not accept questions or complete sentences, like Google, so create a list of words significant to your topic.
• Use various combinations of your keywords. If the initial results of the search are too broad or too narrow, try again using a different combination of keywords.
• Use the search engine tools to help narrow your results. Most search engines will allow you to select the type of source, the date range of publication, and the source format (such as online PDF or old school library book).
• Read source abstracts to determine if a source is worth further review. Abstracts provide summaries of a source’s main idea and purpose.
Do
Do use a variety of databases. Do use a variety of and combinations of keywords. Use a thesaurus if you must. Bad search results are usually caused by searching with bad keywords.
Do narrow your search to the types of sources you want to review.
Do read the abstract, which is a summary of the source, to see if the source is relevant. If it is relevant, read the source.
Do not
Do not choose databases randomly. Do not focus on just one database. Do not enter an entire sentence or question into the search engine field.
Do not cite from abstracts provided in the databases.
Do not forget that librarians will happily help you navigate these databases if you are stuck.
Do not plagiarize any of the abstracts, sources, or ideas in the sources you find.
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