 Why use articles for research?
- For very recent, current information
- Cover very specific subjects
- Popular topics
- Alternative viewpoints
- Reports on scholarly research
Five easy steps to locate articles
- Decide on your topic
- Zero in on a specific aspect of the topic
- Pick keywords
- Choose the best online article database or periodical index
- Search database for citations
- Locate the articles
- Should I use this article?
Choose the best article database to start with
For articles on general topics, EbscoHost or Sirs Knowledge Source is likely to be the best place to begin looking. EbscoHost is the largest, and SIRS is especially good if you have a social issue topic. If you need more articles, try another database. Can’t find what you need online?—try a periodical index or ask us for suggestions.
Why use an article database?
Let your fingers do the walking! Article databases are collections of articles and information about articles. Each has a different group of magazines, journals and/or newspapers. Use an article database to
- identify articles on a specific topic
- get citations for your bibliography
- full text articles—click to read
- print off or email article to yourself
Note: You could browse piles of magazines……
- If you have lots of time you can flip through thousands of issues of our 618 magazine titles, looking for great articles on your topic.
- This is NOT the easy way! Be smart. Let your fingers do the walking—in an online article database!
From the Library’s webpage (http://library.occc.edu), click “Find Articles.” Note: From off-campus, most article databases are available only to OKC Community College students, faculty or staff members.
Search for citations
Different article databases work slightly differently, but they all allow you to find articles on a topic.
Example: Using EbscoHost article database.
- Choose EbscoHost.
- Click Academic Search Elite.
- Type in your topic. Press Enter.
- You should see a list of articles. These were all published in magazines or newspapers.
- Your results will have
- author (may or may not be listed)
- title of article
- source (journal or newspaper)
- date, volume, issue number, page number
- Together, this information is your citation.
- Many of these articles have full text. Click on full text to read the article.
- If you want to print the article, use your print card. You can also email it to yourself.
Hints:
Getting too many irrelevant items? Click “Subject” instead of pressing “Enter” or “All Words.”
Looking for an author? Try family name, first name (Steinbeck, John).
More tips?
Understanding a citation
What are citations for?
A citation is a brief reference to a source used in a book, article or essay. It allows someone else to locate a specific source you used in your paper.
How to read a citation
As you do research you will find different citation formats. Here is a common example:
| The World's Biggest Copy Machine: | ç |
Title of article |
| By: Ardito, Stephanie C.; | ç |
Author |
| Information Today | ç |
Magazine name |
| Mar2003, Vol. 20 Issue 3 | ç |
Date of publication |
| p17, 2p | ç |
Page it starts on, length of article |
How to cite articles in your paper
Don’t forget to record the citation information to the time you find the article! It can be a nightmare to find that information at the last minute. If you are using a print resource (such as a reference book it is often helpful to photocopy the title page of the book).
Check the correct format to use.
Locate the articles
Is there full text or an image of the article online?
- Click to read the article. Email or print it out.
Can’t find articles you need online?
- Got the citation for an article but no full text?
Check the Library catalog or printed list —maybe the Library subscribes to the regular paper magazine.
- Can’t find what you need online?
Try a periodical index. Not all articles can be found in online article databases. Use if
- you need articles on a topic that were written more than about 15 years ago, or
- a specialized index might include more articles on your topic
A variety of periodical indexes are shelved on index tables in the Library’s Magazine Area.
How to find magazines and newspapers on the shelf
Find magazines by their titles (alphabetically) on the shelves. Older issues of many magazines are stored on microfiche. Copies are 10 cents a page.
Library does not own the journal or magazine you need?
For more information or questions please contact:
Library Reference Desk
rbutler@occc.edu
(405) 682-1611, Ext. 7251
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