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ENGL 101 & 011: Find Sources: ENGL 101/ENGL 011

A dedicated research guide including library online tutorials for ENGL101/ENGL 011 classes.

Workshop: Investigative Skills: Foundations of Searching

Investigative Skills: Foundations of Searching for ENGL 101 covers information about types of sources and how to use library search tools and databases. Please visit the registration page, linked below, to sign up for this workshop! (Dates will be updated as workshops are added to the schedule.)

Workshop Activities & Other Resources:

Find Sources for ENGL 101

Also known as scholarly articles, or academic articles. Some journal articles are "peer reviewed," which means they've gone through an extra review process before being published. 

When & Why to Use Journal Articles:

  • Information is based on research and expertise
  • Information is detailed and focused on a narrow topic
  • The peer-review process (mostly) ensures that the information is accurate
  • They add to a growing understanding of a topic by contributing new ideas 

Search:

RaptorSearch Logo

Note: On the RaptorSearch results page, refine your results by clicking Articles under Source Type.

Research Skills & Tips: 

When & Why to Use Scholarly Books:

  • You need to understand a complex topic (these are easier to read than journal articles)
  • You need very in-depth analysis of a topic
  • You need a broad understanding of one or more topics
  • You need a summary of existing research on a topic

Search:

RaptorSearch Logo

Note: On the RaptorSearch results page, refine your results by clicking Books under Source Type.

Research Skills & Tips:

Newspapers are often the only source of information for events that are so recent that they have not yet made it into other sources.

When & why to use Newspaper articles:

  • You need information on local, national or international events
  • You need in-depth reports on selected current issues
  • You want to find editorials and opinions on issues

Search:

Step 2: Find Sources

"Find Sources." Magnifying Glass.

To find sources, start by thinking about your research questions and the type of information you need. For example, you may need to search in different places to find statistics than you would if you need to find images. 

This page provides tips for how to develop a search strategy and also links to search tools you can use to find specific types of sources. 

As you search, consider the tips on the Evaluate Sources page, and assess each article, book, website or other source that you find.