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Communication Studies 321: Rhetorical Discourse
The following library and Internet resources are geared toward the research needs of CSUN students taking Communication Studies 321: Rhetorical Discourse. Choosing the right resource(s) to use involves several factors.
Periodical
Indexes/Databases | Locating
Periodicals | Books
| Facts, Opinions
& Statistics | Internet
| Citation
Style Guides | Avoiding
Plagiarism
Periodical Indexes/Databases
- Periodicals (magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and scholarly journals) are excellent sources of current and/or specific information for research projects. Often, they are considered primary sources for research.
- Periodical indexes or databases allow you to search for keywords to help you identify relevant articles. All of the databases listed below provide the full text for most of the articles they index.
- It's a good idea to formulate a search strategy before using a periodical database.
- Databases can be searched using Boolean Logic (AND, OR, NOT) and truncation/wildcards symbols (*, ?, etc.) to combine keywords and phrases to locate articles on specific topics.
- For a complete list of available databases, see Databases A-Z.
- FYI, you can also connect to the Library's databases and full-text periodicals from off campus
- Databases listed below that include this image
allow you to limit search results to scholarly journal articles.
- Academic
Search Elite (EBSCOHost)
- Provides full text for nearly 1,850 periodicals, including more than 1,250 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to the full text, indexing and abstracts are provided for all 3,237 periodicals in the collection. This database offers information in nearly every area of academic study, including communication studies. Allows limiting search results to peer-reviewed scholarly journals.
- Communication
and Mass Media Complete (EBSCOhost)
- Indexes and abstracts over 600 journals and trade publications; includes full text for over 240 journals. CMMC incorporates the content of CommSearch (formerly produced by the National Communication Association) and Mass Media Articles Index (formerly produced by Penn State). Subjects covered include communication studies, journalism, mass media, speech, linguistics, communicative disorders, deaf studies, advertising, and related areas of interest to practitioners and educators in these fields. Dates of coverage vary by journal. A list of journal titles covered by CMMC is available.
- Congressional Research Service Reports
- Research and analysis on public policy issues prepared for the U.S. Congress by nationally recognized experts. "CRS is committed to providing the Congress, throughout the legislative process, comprehensive and reliable analysis, research and information services that are timely, objective, nonpartisan, and confidential, thereby contributing to an informed national legislature."
- CQ Researcher
- CQ Researcher full-text reports offer in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy. Each 12,000-word report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist, including sections on background and chronology; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources. Note: Since the reports are written by journalists, it is not considered a scholarly journal. Coverage is from 1991 to the present.
- CQ Weekly
- Online weekly magazine provides in-depth reports on issues before the U.S. Congress, plus a complete summary of the previous week's news, including the status of bills in play, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, committee and floor activity, debates and all roll-call votes. Good source of current events and social issues. Coverage is from 1983 to present.
- Ethnic
NewsWatch (ProQuest)
- Full text articles from more than 270 ethnic, minority and native press publications, including newspapers, magazines and journals, 1960 to present.
- Gale
Power Search
- Simultaneously access 11 Gale databases to locate magazine articles, academic journal articles, news, reference books, Web sites, and multimedia resources. Includes "Viewpoint" (pro/con) essays and topic overviews on controversial issues from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center in the "books" results.
- GenderWatch
(ProQuest)
- Contains unique and diverse publications that focus on how gender impacts a broad spectrum of subject areas. With archival material dating back to 1970, GenderWatch is a repository of an important historical perspective on the evolution of both the women's movement and major changes in gender roles.
- General Multi-Subject Multisearch
- Allows you to search up to 10 Library periodical and reference resource
databases using a common interface. Includes many databases that access
scholarly journal articles, which will be indicated by
in the results list. - General
OneFile (Gale)
- From arts and the humanities to social sciences, science and technology, this database meets research needs across all academic disciplines. Access over 9,000 scholarly journals, and general interest news magazines and newspapers - over half contain full text and images. Search specific keywords using the Advanced Search or browse subjects using the Subject Guide. Coverage is from 1980 to the present. Allows limiting search results to scholarly journals ("peer-reviewed publications").
- General
Reference Center Gold (Gale)
- A general interest database that integrates a variety of sources in one easy-to-use interface. Use General Reference Center Gold to find articles from newspapers, reference books, and periodicals, many with full-text and images. Search specific keywords using the Advanced Search or browse subjects using the Subject Guide.
- LexisNexis
Academic
- LexisNexis Academic is a full-text database containing news, legal, biographical, and business information. Click on Easy Search (default) or Power Search from the General toolbar, or News from the toolbar to search newspapers and other sources. Easy Search does not use Boolean (AND, OR, NOT) operators and searches large groups of the most popular sources. Power Search and News allow Boolean logic, searching within specific parts of a document (headline, byline, lead paragraph, etc.), and the ability to search more specific sources. In addition to sources such as "Major U.S. and World Publications," "Major World Publications (non-English)," "web blogs" (mostly business related), "TV and radio brodcast transcripts" (news broadcasts, political campaigns), and legal or business information in Easy Search, Power Search or News include "U.S. Newspapers and Wires," "magazine stories,'" and topical news sources (business, legal, university, and healthcare) among others. For tips on searching for editorials in LexisNexis Academic, see News Search: Find An Editorial Or Opinion Piece. Click Legal to search law reviews, federal and state laws and court cases; click Business to search company information and other related sources; and click People for biographical information. Dates of coverage in LexisNexis vary by publication.
- News + Current Issues Multisearch
- Allows you to search up to 10 Library news and current events databases using a common interface.
- Opposing
Viewpoints Resource Center (Gale)
- Focus on controversial issues. Features viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic journal, and newspaper articles; primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites. Updated daily. Note: Only two users can search this database at the same time! To access "Viewpoint" (pro/con) essays only, another option for searching this database is to use the Gale Power Search, enter keywords, then click on the "Books" tab to read the "Viewpoint Essays."
- ProQuest Newspapers
- Full text for 500+ U.S. and international news sources. Includes coverage of 150+ major U.S. newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Chicago Tribune, plus hundreds of other news sources and news wires. Click the More Search Options link from the main search screen to reveal choices for limiting by Document Type, such as editorial, speech, and review.
- Sage Journals
Online
- Full text access to journals in the social sciences, humanities, and sciences, including almost 20 communication and media studies journals.
Locating Periodicals
Books
- Books may be searched in the Library Catalog by author, title, Library of Congress Subject Heading, or keywords.
- Keyword searching allows the use of Boolean Logic (AND, OR, NOT) and truncation/wildcards symbols (*, ?, etc.).
- For books not held by the Oviatt Library, request an Interlibrary Loan, but allow about 2 weeks.
Facts, Opinions & Statistics
The following web sites can lead you to facts, opinions, statistics, and background information to support your research.
- American Factfinder (Population, housing, economic, and geographic data.)
- Electronic Reference Books (encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, etc.)
- FedStats.gov (Gateway to federal sources of statistics.)
- Gale Virtual Reference Library (encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources)
- Government Information: Federal, State, Local, International
- Government Publications on Social Issues
- Legal Research (links to primary sources of court cases, laws, regulations, and treaties as well as secondary research materials)
- News on the Web
- NewsBank Special Reports (Focus on topics of current interest, including current and background information, statistics, maps, images, websites, and suggested search terms. Updated daily.)
- Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (Focus on controversial topics. In addition to periodical articles, includes primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites. Note: Only two users can search this database at the same time! To access "Viewpoint" (pro/con) essays only, another option for searching this database is to use the Gale Power Search, enter keywords, then click on the "Books" tab to read the "Viewpoint Essays.")
- Public Opinion Polls and Surveys
- Society's Issues: Controversial and Current
- Statistical Data Sources
Internet
In addition to the databases and Web sites listed above, the Internet can be a valuable source of information. However, remember to think critically about the authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage of the information you find.
- Internet Search Engines - (links to favorite search engines of CSUN librarians)
- SearchEngineWatch - (comprehensive directory of search engines by type)
- Evaluating Web Pages - (criteria used to critically evaluate web pages)
Citation Style Guides
- MLA, APA, & Other Citation Style Guides
- Citation Machine - (Provides an interactive tool to help create reference citations for research papers. Includes various print and electronic resources. Note web site disclaimer before using.)
Avoiding Plagiarism
Prepared by Katherine Dabbour, Communication Studies Librarian
18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge CA 91330 (818) 677-2285 |
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