Online Resources

Top 10 Invisible Internet Database Tips

1. Use the appropriate Invisible Internet database to meet your specific need!

ABC Clio History Suite 

(history, worldwide across time)

Britannica School

(online encyclopedia)

Culturegrams

Decades: 1940s-2000s in America  (history, pop culture)

Gale Biography In Context 

(people)

Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context

(debates, argumentative & persuasive writing)

Gale Science in Context 

(science related topics)

ProQuest 

(all subjects, journals, magazines, newspapers)

School & Educators Complete

(electronic books)

SIRS Issue Researcher

2. When you search a database and do not get the results you expect, ask for help. Mrs. Mielke is here to help you.

3. Start with a keyword search, using words/phrases that describe your topic.

4. Browse the results; choose 2 or 3 that are relevant.

5. Look at the Subject Headings and note the terms used (write them down).

6. Redo your search using those terms, your results will be more precise than your initial keyword search.

7. Use truncation, enter the root of a word and put the truncation symbol at the end to broaden your search.

           genetic* = genetic, genetics, genetically

Truncation symbols may vary by database; common symbols include: *, !, ?, or #.

8. Consider using limits to limit to document type, date range, language, etc.

9. Use Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT.

10. Track your MLA Citations.

For more detailed information about database searching, see the Guide for Searching the Invisible Internet Databases.