Flory - Sections A, C & I - ENGL101: Expository Writing - Library Guides at University of Jamestown

Slides from Class

ENGL101 - Flory - October 27, 2023 (PDF)

Brainstorm Questions & Keywords

Before you start searching, take the time to brainstorm research questions and keywords.

You have been looking at news stories that report on very specific moments in time. News doesn't happen in a vacuum, though. Taking the time to brainstorm questions and keywords about the larger context surrounding your news story will help guide and focus your searching.

It will also make your searching easier! You'll have multiple options of words to try, if some don't seem to be as useful as others.

Because library databases aren't good at searching natural language (the way we speak and ask questions naturally), it's especially important to break down your topic or questions into keywords.

Use some basic questions to help you brainstorm specific research questions and keywords.

WHO	Who is involved? Who is affected? Are there key figures related to your topic? Who writes about or shares information on your topic?
WHAT	What are the key issues and questions surrounding your topic? What are some potential answers or solutions to those issues?
WHEN	Are there key dates associated with your topic? When did major events related to your topic happen? Are you focused on a particular period of history?
WHERE	Is there a geographic location that is important to your topic? Can you focus your topic on a particular location?
HOW	How does your topic affect your life, others' lives, or the world around you?
WHY	Why are you interested in your topic? Why should others be interested? Why do your research questions matter?

Search Library Databases

Start here.

These databases are great for background information or for an initial search. Then try other databases listed in the next few tabs. Where you search depends on which topic you've chosen, and what you want to know about that topic.

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Online access to over 700 encyclopedias and dictionaries on all subjects. A great place to find background information when starting a research project.
Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
Scholarly research, trade journals, and popular news/magazines covering all disciplines. A good place to start for most research topics. (An expanded version of Academic Search Premier.)
Global Issues in Context This link opens in a new window
Contains topic overviews, news/magazine sources, trade publications, and scholarly information on many important current events, issues, and debates.

Use these databases to find news and magazine articles

US Newsstream This link opens in a new window
Full-text of over 1300 newspapers, news websites, and blogs from leading publishers throughout the world. Some publications, especially major newspapers, are updated daily.
Gale OneFile: News This link opens in a new window
Provides access to more than 2,300 major U.S. regional, national, and local newspapers, as well as leading titles from around the world plus transcripts of radio and TV broadcasts.

Use these databases to find sports and health-related articles

SportDiscus with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Indexes journal articles on physical education, physical training, sports medicine, and other sports-related topics. Some full text.
CINAHL Complete This link opens in a new window
Scholarly research, quick summaries, and evidence-based information sheets covering 50 nursing specialties, speech and language pathology, nutrition, general health and medicine, and more.

Try these databases for business-focused research

Business Source Premier This link opens in a new window
Business-focused database with coverage of marketing, management, information technology, operations, human resources, accounting, finance, and economics. Contains scholarly journals, trade publications, and news/magazine sources.
Gale Business Insights This link opens in a new window
Provides business and industry content such as market share reports, SWOT analyses, corporate chronologies and company histories, and articles from academic, trade, and news publications.

Try these databases for education-focused research

ERIC (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
The premier database for research in education and related fields. Content includes journal articles, research reports, curriculum and teaching guides, conference papers, dissertations, and books dating back to 1966.
ProQuest Education Database This link opens in a new window
Access over 900 top educational publications with coverage on primary, secondary and higher education as well as special education, home schooling and adult education. Many titles are indexed in ERIC.

Try these databases for historical & political research

JSTOR This link opens in a new window
For scholarly research especially in the humanities and social sciences. Includes scholarly articles, books, and primary sources (but may not include the most recent issues of journals).
Gale OneFile: U.S. History This link opens in a new window
Provides access to scholarly journals and magazines covering events in U.S. history.

Try these databases for technology-focused research

Applied Science & Technology Source This link opens in a new window
Academic journals, leading trade journals, professional and technical society journals, and conference proceedings for applied sciences and computing disciplines. Some full text.
Gale OneFile: Science This link opens in a new window
Full-text scholarly journals and professional publications covering the biological sciences, computing, engineering, and technology.