Research Guides: ECA English: Finding Sources at the EMU Library

Developing a Topic and Search Words

Choosing a Topic and Search Terms
This worksheet can be used to choose a topic and brainstorm and select search words. By Burnks and Wolnick, University of Virginia Library, licensed under CC BY NC SA.

Finding Articles on Current / Controversial Topics

Opposing ViewPoints This link opens in a new window
Easy way to research timely or controversial topics - abortion, immigration, climate change, etc.
Access Tips: Also available via mel.org
Points of View Reference Source This link opens in a new window
Presents multiple sides of an issue.
Access Tips: Also available via mel.org
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Examines controversial topics reported in the media
Subjects: Current, Newsworthy Issues (Political, Social, Economic, Environmental)
Info type: reports

Find Books Using the Library Catalog

Online Reference Books

Online reference books are really useful for background information. All of the sources that are compiled in the database listed below are print books that have been digitized and put in a searchable format.

SAGE Knowledge This link opens in a new window
Ebooks and reference sources from SAGE.
Subjects: Many subjects, including African American Studies, Anthropology, Business Ethics, Communication, Criminology, Economics, Education, Gender Studies, History, Politics, Psychology, Social Issues, Social Work, Sociology.
Info type: encyclopedia articles, ebooks
Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Search and display the full-text of reference books.
Subjects: Many subjects, including History, Education, Film, Health, Science, Social Science
Info type: encyclopedia and reference book entries.
List of sources.

Search for Articles Using Esearch

Ask a Librarian

Use 24/7 live chat below or:

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Email or phone replies

Appointments with librarians

Access Library and Research Help tutorials

Why do I need to evaluate information?

When you search for information, you're going to find lots of it. But is it accurate and reliable? You will have to determine this for yourself, and the CRAAP Test can help.

Information can be evaluated by looking at these five criteria:

Currency: The timeliness of the information
Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs
Authority: The source of the information
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content
Purpose: The reason the information exists

See our guide on evaluating sources for more information on this process.

For evaluating news sources, take a look at this Media Bias Chart (static version can be found here.)

ECA English: Finding Sources at the EMU Library