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COMM 105 - Speaking of Ideas: Find Articles

Search Strategies

Customize your search to improve results.
HINT: This is where brainstorming a list of keywords related to your topic comes in handy!

“ ” Group keywords with quotation marks to search as an exact phrase.  
Example: “the night watchman” 

* Use the asterisk if you want to search multiple iterations of a keyword.  
Example: sculpt* = sculpture, sculptors, sculpted 

& Use AND to combine several keywords or phrases.  
Example: "Ai Wei Wei" AND installation

+ Use OR to search for information about one term, and also articles about another term.  
Example: sustainable OR eco-friendly

- Use NOT to search for information about one term, while excluding another term
Example: Michaelangelo NOT turtle

 

Advanced Search features make it easy to narrow a large result list. For example:

  • Subject links limit results to a specific topic or discipline
  • Specify a publication date range
  • Search within the title of an article, the summary or the entire text

Working From Off-Campus

You can use SCAD databases from any computer!

  • Log in using your last name as it appears on the front of your SCAD ID card
  • For ID Number, use the 9-digit number located on the front of your SCAD ID card
  • You should now be logged in and able to search.

Ask A Librarian if you are having difficulties logging in.

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Classic Catalog

Accessing Full Text

When using a database, look for PDF links. 

In Catalog+, clicking the title of an article may take you directly to the article. If a catalog record appears instead, look for the green Article link. Click to access the article. There may be multiple options for access in different databases.

If no online options exist at SCAD, search the publication's title in journal title search to see if it is available in print.

No digital OR print options for your article? Not sure how to find a printed article on the shelf? Experiencing technical issues/broken links? Ask A Librarian!

Learning Through Searching

Whether you've decided you need to find books, find articles and images, or find and evaluate websites to learn about your topic, you will likely use a combination of resources. Remember, that just because a source is credible does not make it the best source for YOUR presentation or assignment.

Databases