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WRIT 10100: Inquiry, Conversation, Argument

This guide highlights Library resources helpful for undergraduates enrolled in the one-quarter intensive writing seminar, Inquiry, Conversation, Argument (ICA).

Finding Articles on a Topic

Starting Points

The databases below are good starting points for finding for articles on a specific topic:

  • Articles Plus: A search of hundreds of the Library’s article databases, including Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, Science Direct, and more.
  • JSTOR: A database of more than 12 million academic articles in the humanities and social sciences
  • Web of Science: Over a century of scientific articles and citations indexed.
  • SCOPUS: Abstract and citation in database focusing on the physical and social sciences.

Expand Your Search

Move beyond basic searching by using subject-specific article databases.

Finding an Article from a Citation Using Articles Plus

Database Search Techniques

Use Boolean Operators

The Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT can help you combine concepts, as well as helping you to expand or narrow your search.

  • AND Narrows Your Search
    Joining search terms with AND looks for results which must include all of your keywords: alcoholism AND schizophrenia
     
  • OR Broadens Your Search
    Joining search terms with OR broadens your search and can be used with synonyms: Latino OR Hispanic
     
  • NOT Limits Your Search
    Joining search terms with NOT excludes keywords from your search: pets NOT cats

Use Truncation and Wildcards When Applicable

Truncation and wildcards help you search variations of words that may be important for your search.

  • wom?n finds woman or women
  • philosoph* finds philosopher, philosophers, philosophy...

These symbols can vary from database to database, so check the "Help" or "Search Tips" options in the database you are searching to find the best one for your needs.