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ENG 1061/1070 English Composition/Effective Speaking: Research databases

Getting started with background research for composition and speech topics.

What is a database?

An electronic collection of materials which includes information describing each item that can be searched. Databases search a specific set of information sources, especially periodicals.

Research databases

Suggested subscription databases

These cover a broad range of topics with full-text. Helpful for background information.

Subject-specific databases

Many databases focus on materials specific to a subject or discipline. Below is a selection of databases for some common subjects at Castleton.

Finding full-text

Search within CU subscription resources

1)  Put the title or important key words into the Castleton OneSearch search box.  If you find the article in your results list, see if full-text is available.  Look for links to HTML or PDF full-text or Open Access Full Text. If there's a link to "Full Text Finder," click on that to be linked to the full-text in another database.  Choose any of the options.

or

2)  Search our Journals Titles A-Z for the title of the journal where the article is published. When you find the journal, click on Full Text Access.  See if the date of the journal your article is in is contained in the full-text holdings in any of the databases listed (or in CU print holdings). Locate your article by issue date or by searching within that journal.


If you don't find full-text in CU subscriptions:

Search using the title or important key words in Google or Google Scholar (scholar.google.com).  In Google Scholar, look for an HTML or PDF link in the right column.

If no full-text is available, Castleton faculty, staff and students can request articles through interlibrary loan.  Access the interlibrary loan system here or through the link on the library website.  Sign in, then click on Create Request. Fill in the necessary information.  Look for a response in your Castleton email.

Castleton OneSearch

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Search for articles, books and more...

Castleton OneSearch searches most of the library's purchased or subscription material at once. Don't put a full sentence or question in the search box. Pull out keywords from the concepts of your topic.

Instead of: What kind of cognition does an octopus engage in?

Try just the keywords: cognition octopus

Magazine articles

To find magazine articles only

(excluding newspaper or scholarly journal articles)

In ProQuest Central, choose Advanced Search. Under Source type, scroll down and check the box next to Magazines.

Statistics for the U.S. and states, counties and more

From the U.S. Census Bureau:

Exercise: Magazines vs. Academic journals