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- WR 121: LeFave
- Step Two: Search terms & Articles
WR 121: LeFave: Step Two: Search terms & Articles
Research on an Inquiry Question
For this class, you will be incorporating outside sources in your essay writing. Looking for sources involves doing research, but you can think of it more as exploring what others have written or considered important. The idea is to expand the conversation beyond your personal narrative to include other people's thoughts and perspectives in ways that add to and support your own ideas.
1. First, watch the videos below, which describe strategies for generating search terms and demonstrates how to use the PCC Library Search box to find articles. Read the instructions on how to access eBooks through the PCC Library.
2. Next, try your topic in both of the search boxes to the right.
3. Be sure to keep what you like! Use the database tools to email yourself articles and links too books to read closely later. The database provides and will send you the complete MLA citation for the article in the body of the email. Include the URL in your citations.
Videos: Search Terms
- Brainstorming Keywordsfrom Portland State University Library
- Developing a Search Queryfrom Portland State University Library
- Research 101: Building Keywordsfrom Northwestern University Libraries
- Selecting Keywordsfrom Coastal Carolina University Kimbel Library
Looking for ebooks?
The PCC Library provides access to many ebooks. To find ebooks in the library:
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Enter a search in the main search box on the library homepage.
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On the results page, on the left-hand side of the page, find the Format section and check the eBooks box.
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Click the Apply Filters button.
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To access an ebook, click the Online Access link under the title information.
Find various viewpoints
- Ethnic Newswatch This link opens in a new windowFull text newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic minority and native press. Provides a rich collection of articles, editorials, and reviews with a broad diversity of perspectives and viewpoints. Also a good source of ethnic recipes. Coverage is from 1980 to the present. View the Ethnic NewsWatch handout
- Alt-PressWatch This link opens in a new windowA full text collection of newspapers, magazines and journals of the alternative and independent press. View the Alt-Press Watch handout.
- New York Times Online This link opens in a new windowUnlimited access to the New York Times on NYTimes.com. See Get Started with the New York Times Online to set up your subscription through PCC Library. Once you have set up your subscription, you can go directly to NYTimes.com and sign in using your personal account.
Find Books, Articles, DVDs, and more
Find Articles with EBSCO
Find articles in this search of Academic Search Premier and MasterFILE Premier
Find Articles with Google Scholar
Before searching, be sure to set PCC as your library in your browser by:
- Visiting the link to set "Library Links" settings for Google Scholar,
- using the search box to search for "Portland Community College",
- checking the check box that appears underneath the search to select “Portland Community College – Find it @ PCC”,
- and then selecting the Save button.
This will ensure that when you search Google Scholar in your browser, you will see Find It @ PCC links to full text if we have the article (Google Scholar sometimes also provides links to other free sources for full text).
You can learn more about setting Google Scholar preferences on the PCC Library Website.
- Google Scholar This link opens in a new windowGoogle Scholar searches the web for scholarly articles, reports, books, and other materials. If using Google Scholar from a PCC campus, you can access full text articles. If PCC has access to an article, a "Find it @ PCC" link will appear to the right of the search result. Click “Find it @ PCC” to go to the library catalog where you will be offered a choice to view the article. From home, you will need to set your Google Scholar preferences to access PCC Library resources. See How to Search PCC Library on Google Scholar for directions on how to set your Google Scholar preferences at home.