HUS 101: Introduction to Human Services: In the News

Start with the HUS 101 Library Session Notes

This document provides useful tips and links for every aspect of this research project. I'll cover this in more detail when I meet with your class.

Find Books, Articles, DVDs, and more

Finding News Sources

Use these sources to find a news story (remember, it needs to be a specific story you can follow across multiple news outlets) and to find additional articles, podcasts, etc. about that news story for your analysis. In many cases, once you've found a specific news story, your best bet for finding additional sources on the same story is to Google details of the story.

Finding Articles related to the Context of Your Topic (not the specific news story)

In addition to using Google, search these databases to find articles on the larger context of your topic (not the specific news story).

Types of Articles

There are many different types of articles. The chart below can help you figure out which type(s) you're looking for or identify an article you've already found:

Decorative image of a newspaper News articles provide the most current information. Certain newspapers, such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, are also known for thoughtful, in-depth analyses of important topics and events.
Decorative image of a magazine cover Popular magazine articles can help you generate ideas about issues, controversies, or unanswered questions about a topic, which you might want to explore further. They sometimes refer to studies or scholarly work that you can track down for more information.
Decorative image of a trade magazine cover Trade publications are written by and for professionals within an industry. These are an excellent source of very specific information from inside the field.
Decorative image of a scholarly journal cover Scholarly journal articles go through a process of peer review before they are published. They are written by experts in the field (the people with letters after their name!) and their purpose is to advance the ongoing body of work within the discipline. These articles might present original research data and findings, or take a position on a key question within the field. They can be difficult to read, because their intended audience is other experts and academics, but they are at the top of the line when it comes to authoritative information.