ENGL 128 Research Writing: Science, Engineering and Business (Weller)

This guide is for students in Dan Weller's English 128

What should you type in the search box?

Strategize keywords for research

Break your topic or research question down into key words.

Sample topic: How can international students feel more connected to domestic students at GRC? 

Sample keywords:

  • "international students" AND "domestic students"
  • "international students" AND engagement
Use Boolean operators to build your search

Sample topic: How to bring down the cost of textbooks or offer textbook alternatives.

  • Use AND to connect ideas and focus your research. AND gets you fewer and more relevant results.
    • textbooks AND costs
  • Use OR to connect synonyms or related terms.
    • "low-cost textbooks" OR "OER texts"
  • Use NOT to exclude results.
    • NOT reviews 
Use Limiters to refine your search
  • Set date range to find current enough information
  • Set source type to look only with magazines, for example
  • Set document type to find a specific kind of article
  • Apply database provided Subject terms or keywords

Search in a Library Periodicals Database

Searching the Databases

Let the database help you search for and select current newspaper and magazines articles relevant to your research. 

Search Tips

Follow these tips shown in the image of the search results below.

  • Enter relevant search terms into the search field
  • Put phrases in quotes to keep terms together
  • Limit to Full-Text results - IF you need to see results for only the articles that you can immediately download. 

(click on image to enlarge)proquest-self-driving-cars

  • Under "Source Type," limit to Magazine and Newspapers as shown in the image below.
  • Note that you can also narrow in on particular kinds of articles under "Document Type"
    • Editorials, for example, provide insight info public opinion.

(click on image to enlarge)

search fields showing how to limit by document type as outlined in the text

Sample Search

The sample search below shows how you can narrow your results in the databases. Shown in the search here, is ProQuest. However, you can look for similar tools in other databases.

  • You can narrow your search using the built-in tools of the database - shown in the image below, or on the menu that appear on the left of the search results.
  • Limit by Source Type & Limit to just Full-Text results IF you need to see results that you can immediately download. 
  • Click on the title of an article to read more and access the PDF

(click on the image to enlarge)

advanced search in Proquest

Searching Article Databases

Searching the Databases

The library's research databases will help you find magazine, newspaper, and journal articles that are often not freely available through the internet. 

Consider the list of databases linked below to search for articles from a wide range of academic subjects, or consider the databases organized by subject here in the tabs of this box.

To limit your search to news articles, select magazine and newspaper at source type. You can try limiting to features and cover stories for lengthier, more substantive pieces.

Sample Search

My search of artificial intelligence AND higher education returned 120 newspaper and magazine articles from the past year. 

I could further refine my search by document type (opinion, feature, cover, etc.), subject, and more.

(click on image to enlarge)

Proquest  search for news

Science & Engineering Databases

Business Databases

Health Science Databases

Natural Science Databases

Why magazines & newspapers?

Using Popular Publications

When you search the library's general databases, many articles in your results are either from a newspaper or magazine.

Newspaper articles are often short and capture a record and analysis of daily news, issues and events, whether local, national or international. 

Tip: The New York Times newspaper (available in ProQuest) has great science, technology and business sections!

Newspapers and magazines both offer opinion pieces, or editorials, on current issues.

Magazines often take up the same types of topics, but may give a bit more depth than newspapers.

Tip: Magazines can also be dedicated to a specialized subject area, like Wired (technology) or Scientific American.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Be sure to check The Chronicle of Higher Education for news and discussion of your topic!

(click on image to enlarge)

The Chronicle of Higher Ed: Student Loans