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FINDING NEWS ARTICLES

(eg./ Technology and Society News Search Assignment)

SEARCHING DATABASES FOR NEWS ARTICLES

KEYWORD SEARCHES
All the periodical databases purchased by Westmount and the Vaughan Public Libraries are databases. Use the correct Boolean logic (eg./ (...) to group) as needed. Some databases default to phrase search while others may default to an AND search.

- type topic under preferred field (eg. Subject)

The operators AND, OR, NOT are selected via their appropriate boxes
or
they may be inserted as part of a search string -- when using the operators as part of the search string, type the operator in upper case.

MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER & JOURNAL DATABASES

  • Select preferred package of databases from below (InfoTrac, Ebscohost, etc.)
  • Select appropriate database(s) within preferred package
  • Choose "Advanced Search" tab
  • type keyword(s):
    • combine keywords needed with AND operator
    • search most important keywords in Subject field (or broaden search to default fields if necessary)
    • use truncation as required
    • cluster similar concepts if necessary to optimize on line limitations
    • check assigned subject headings of highly relevant articles for alternate keywords
    • no one perfect strategy -- play around for the one that works best for given search
  • select Fulltext Only

Infotrac and EbscoHost articles may be emailed directly to user

All Ebscohost Databases include summaries of their articles. These summaries are called "Abstracts".

See below for a sample search.

 

BROWSING THROUGH SELECT DATABASE PUBLICATIONS

SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR NEWS ARTICLES
Some Internet search engines may also have limited Boolean under their ADVANCED SEARCH. 

For this exercise, we suggest using Google's Advanced News Search.

Go to Google's Advanced News Search now.

A News Alert can be created in Google News saving the search and allowing for easy monitoring of new items on your topic.

 Sample keywords using Google Advanced Search: Sample Google News Advanced Search:

is the same as

Please note:

  • Google's truncation symbol * does not always work as well as may be expected -- especially for heavily indexed terms (eg./ computers). Therefore, it may be necessary to enter separate searches for different combinations of keywords.
  • Alternately, choose the root word and Google frequently finds most occurrences using that root word (eg./ ergonomic also finds ergonomics)
  • operators may be inserted as part of a search string -- when using the operators as part of the search string, type the operator in upper case.
  • "..." unnecessary if entered into "with the exact phrase" cell
THE NEWSTAND

Computer Dictionaries (Google search)

 Literacy How To's - Evaluating sources & Bibliographic Citations

Easybib.com

How to Write an Abstract

Careers Page

How to Write Opinion Pieces / Editorials

How to Write Article Reviews

 


 

alternately use GOOGLE ADVANCED SEARCH     

last updated 09/22/08

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