Metherd - English 4 - How to Google Better - Research Guides at Saint Mary's College of California

Databases for researching your proposal

Background

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Encyclopedia articles
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window
Overviews of social issues written by seasoned journalists (with background, future outlook, timelines, pro/con arguments)

Arguments

Opposing Viewpoints (Gale in Context) This link opens in a new window
Pros and cons of various political and social issues, including articles, statistics, documents and references to additional resources

Newspapers

Access World News This link opens in a new window
600 US newspapers and 700 international newspapers (*make sure to click "sort by best results"*)
Alt-PressWatch This link opens in a new window
Newspapers, magazines and journals from alternative and independent presses
New York Times (NYTimes.com) This link opens in a new window
Blocked by the nytimes.com paywall? Use this link to get a SMC account.

You may also want to search the website of the local newspaper for the community you are focusing on.

Back issues of The Collegian are available on microfilm in the Library.

You can also search the College Archives for documents from SMC history.

Scholarly Journals, News, Books, & More:

Or look at the library's full list of databases and choose a scholarly journal database by subject area (allied health, psychology, etc.)

MLA Style is the preferred style for most English assignments at Saint Mary's.

SMC MLA Style Guide
SMC Library's "purple guide" with a sample paper and works cited in MLA style (9th edition)

MLA Handbook Plus This link opens in a new window
The official MLA Handbook -- now online! Includes guidance on citing sources and formatting your paper.

Additional Resources:

MLA Style Center
The official website of MLA Style, with FAQs, sample papers, and more.
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) MLA Formatting and Style Guide
Purdue OWL provides sample MLA citations for many different kinds of things you may be citing.