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El Paso Community College
Library Research Guides

ENGL 1301: Articles/Online Databases

Library Resources available for class assignments and research.

What is a Database?

What is a Database?

A database is just a fancy name for a collection of magazines, journals, newspapers, books, reference materials, ebooks, videos, and more.  All of these sources are online and available to you from home 24 hours a day.

How Do I Access the EPCC Library Online Databases?

To access the databases:

  1. Go to the EPCC Library homepage: www.epcc.edu/services/libraries
  2. Under "Resources," click on "Online Databases"
  3. There are many categories to choose from.  Each database has a specialty like medicine, literature, history, etc.. They are put into categories to help you find them.
  4. Select the subject that is closest to your topic.  In this case "Controversial" would be a good start.
  5. You can always select "General" as these are good for any topic.
  6. Select one of the databases under any of these categories by clicking on the name.
  7. You may be prompted to enter your MyEPCC login and password to prove you are a student at EPCC.
  8. Then you should be taken straight into the database.

Online Databases

Subject: Controversial 

Credo Reference (Good for Background and Introductory Material)

To use: Go to the "Controversial" Tab - Click on Credo Reference - Enter keywords in the search box (Ex: Organ Trade) - Click on different items that come up to read full text - use the icons at the top to save, print, and cite.

Credo is an easy-to-use tool for starting research. Gather background information on your topic from hundreds of full-text encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations, and subject-specific titles, as well as 500,000+ images and audio files and over 1,000 videos

Subject: Controversial

Opposing Viewpoints in Context 

To use: Go to the "Controversial" Tab - Click on Gale in Context:  Opposing Viewpoints - On right side of page, click on "Browse Issues" - Find a topic that matches your topic - Click on that topic and you will have background information, viewpoint essays for/against different aspects of the topics, articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers - You will see the top 3 items for each category, to see more click on the Heading (featured viewpoints, academic journals, etc...)

You can also search Opposing Viewpoints by keyword.  At the top, there is a search box.  Place your keywords in the search box and see what you get.

Provides social issues viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles. Sources used are the Opposing Viewpoints Series from Greenhaven Press, as well as other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA core reference sources.

Subject: General

 

Academic OneFile 

To use: Go to the "General" Tab - Click on "Academic OneFile"- In the search box, enter your search terms (Ex: gun laws)  - - Click on Search.  When results come up, look across the top for the types of articles you have retrieved (journals, magazines, news, etc...) click on the type of article you want to read.  When it opens, you can then use the icons across the top to print, save, email, or cite the article.

Provides indexing to more than 13,000 titles in the physical sciences, technology, medicine, arts, theology, literature, engineering, business and other subjects beginning in 1980.  Includes peer-reviewed articles from over 7,300 academic journals and reference sources with more than 5,000 full-text.

Academic Search Complete

To use: Go to the "General" Tab - Click on Academic Search Complete - In the search box, enter your search terms (Ex: medical mask and COVID-19 and controversy)  - Use limiters to limit results. - I checkmark "Full Text" - Click on Search.  When results come up, click on the article you want to read.  When it opens, click on the PDF full text on the left side or HTML to read.  You can then use the icons on the right side to print, save, email, or cite the article.

This database provides access to more than 13,000 magazines, journals, and newspapers.  Search using keywords.  Checkmark Full Text box. Click on the title of any article you would like to view.  Print, Save, or E-mail articles.

Last updated:  February 18, 2022

HINTS

Online databases are available 24 hours a day.

Online Databases are available from any computer with Internet access.  Just click on the database names.  Enter your MyEPCC login information.

Searching for Articles

 

searching 

When you are ready to search for articles from magazines, journals, and newspapers on your topic, go to the following library webpage: www.epcc.edu/services/libraries

  1. Click on "Online Databases."  (An online database is a collection of magazines journals, and newspapers that have been placed on the computer.)
  2. The databases are divided up by subject.  Choose the subject closest to your topic.
  3. Try these subjects for your topic: Controversial, General, Newspaper, or Subject of your topic ex. Health & Medicine or Science & Technology.
  4. Choose a database under one of these subjects.
  5. Select the database you would like to use by clicking on the title. (You will be asked to enter your MyEPCC login.)
  6. Enter your keywords in the search box and click search.
  7. Checkmark the Full Text box (limits to articles with full text article attached.)
  8. Find the article you want to read and click on the title.
  9. To read the article, click on pdf or html full-text link provided.
  10. You can e-mail, print, or download and save the article.
  11. You can also click on cite to get the MLA  citation for the article. Since it is computer generated, make sure the formatting is correct.
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