Finding Sources @ the Cabrillo College Library (Week 13)
Get Your Research Question Ready!
On this page, you will begin the research process and find sources that will go into your essay. Below, you will find links to help you search for sources through a variety of channels. Basically, you're going to find articles that provide information on your research topic. You'll need to find quite a few before identifying the ones that you will write about and that will eventually appear in your essay. Aim to find at least eight to ten articles over the next two weeks and then plan on writing SQE paragraphs on at least two, maybe three, four, or even more! Research can go on forever, so the trick is to find balance. What do you want to learn about? What information is provided by the articles you find? Is that enough? Do you need more? Only you can decide. So keep your research question in mind, take notes, and let's start!
Minimum requirement: find 4 sources and write TWO SQE paragraphs
To Do: Make a list of 5 to 10 keywords. Keep adding to this list as you read, take notes, and conduct further research.
Advanced Keyword Searching
Once you have identified your keywords, here are some tips for combining them for better search results.
To limit your results, use the AND
To expand your results, use the OR
To search for an exact phrase, use "QUOTES"
FINDING SOURCES
CQ Researcher
All CQ Researcher articles contain numerous sources at the end of each section. In each article, they also place numbered footnotes to indicate a source. You can click on these numbers and get the publication information for the source. In addition, at the end of most sections, there is a list of articles that you can review to gather more information on your research topic.
Here is a screenshot of the "Overview" section of a CQ Researcher article.
Here is a screenshot of the footnote that pops up:
Here is a screenshot of the footnotes at the end of the "Overview" section. These footnotes appear at the end of most sections in each CQ Researcher article.
OneSearch
OneSearch searches many databases and book collections at the same time.
OneSearch Links to an external site. is convenient, but like Google it gives an overwhelming amount of results. To find relevant results, you will need to use the filters to refine your results.
OneSearch Tutorial
Watch this 4-minute video to learn how to use your keywords and the filters on the left side to refine your results in OneSearch Links to an external site..
News Sources
Websites
- Google News Links to an external site. searches free, online newspapers. Google news is great when you want a wide variety of current news sources.
Cabrillo Library Databases
- U.S. Newsstream Links to an external site. provides free access to newspapers such as The New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. This library database provides 100% free access going back decades, as well as more information about the source and citation tools. (When the login box pops up, use your Canvas login to access from home.)
Santa Cruz Public Library Databases
- America's Newsbank Links to an external site. provides free full-text access to local papers such as the Santa Cruz Sentinel (1999-present) and The Mercury News (1985-present) and the San Francisco Chronicle (1985-present). (To access from home, use your SCPL Library card. Links to an external site.)
Fact-Checking
Use the following fact-checking strategies to evaluate and verify your source.
- Be skeptical, not cynical
- Investigate the source -- who published the cite?
- Find the original source -- original vs. re-reporting (or re-posting!)
- Look for trusted work -- has someone already fact-checked this story?
You will find thousands of news articles. Be picky! Use the best sources you can find. You should find 8 to 10 articles during these next two weeks, then evaluate and verify to pick the best ones to use!
At the Library
We will work with Cabrillo College librarians during our Zoom session NEXT week on Monday for STARS and Tuesday for Puente! Prepare to ask questions and tell them about your success. What's working and what's not working as you conduct research?
What to Do!
- Find at least one source from the CQ Researcher article, "Systemic Racism--Can the Structures of Inequality be Overcome? Download Systemic Racism--Can the Structures of Inequality be Overcome?"
- Find at least one source using OneSearch Links to an external site..
- Find at least two sources from a Library Database, try U.S. Newsstream Links to an external site. or Opposing Viewpoints Links to an external site. or Academic Search Complete Links to an external site.
- Email your sources and locate your citations. (Send yourself emails so that you'll have a record of what you've found!)
- Evaluate and verify your sources. Pick your two best sources for the "Systemic Racism and Inequality" essay and write an SQE paragraph on each those articles. (For step-by-step directions, go to the next page: Writing the SQE paragraphs for Your Sources)
- Turn in the MLA citations for 4 articles and write two paragraphs as part of the Assignment: Week 12 Paragraph Writing
Need Help? Ask A Librarian
Aptos
- Monday - Thursday 8:45am - 6:00pm
- Friday 8:45am - 1:00pm
Watsonville
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10:00am - 1:00pm
- Tuesday & Wednesday 1:00 - 3:00pm
Online: Ask A Librarian
- Live Chat Monday - Thursday 4:00-8:00pm
- Submit a question any time!