Where to Find Articles
Library search engines (databases) are a great place to find magazine and newspaper articles for your paper. Each search engine has a different flavor/subject area it covers. If the full text isn’t right there, click the Find It button. If we don’t have the article, you can request it from another library by clicking the “get this article or book chapter” link. (The turnaround time on this is usually about 2 days.)
- Academic SearchRemember in this database to limit to just magazines and newspapers on the lefthand side of the screen.
- Nexis UNI (Formerly Lexis/Nexis) This link opens in a new windowBe sure to use the Search News box on the bottom left instead of using the large search box at the top. Also using "all news sources" helps.
- National Newspapers Core This link opens in a new windowThis database covers the large national newspapers in the country.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowThis database has encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, etc. Great place for background and historical information.
Presentation tools to help you get started
- AnimotoCreating videos from photos
- Infogr.amMore infographics options
- PiktochartWeb application to design infographics
- Poll EverywhereOnline or cell phone polling software
- PreziOnline presentation software
- SmoreDesign flyers
- TagxedoWord cloud software
- Easel.lyEasy infographics
- QuizletCreate flashcards.
- CanvaEasy graphic design software
Citations
Here are a few links to help you out with your APA citations.
- APA Cheat SheetA guide explaining APA paper formatting, in-text citation, and creating a reference list.
- APA citations from databasesHow to get APA citations from Academic Search, SocINDEX, and PsycINFO.
How to find streaming media
Search Films on Demand, a streaming film database. This database has both full videos as well as segments on all sorts of topics.
- Academic SearchAssociated Press video is available in this database
- Journeyman PicturesDocumentary films from around the world, posted on YouTube.
- SnagFilmsMore documentaries on a separate platform
- HuluNot just for tv shows, Hulu does a great job of search the web for online video and linking to wherever it is hosted.
- PBS VideoPBS has begun to put their videos, shows, and documentaries online.
Working in a group
Organizing a large group project for the first time? Here are a few tips, tricks, and tools to use.
- Google Docs (now Google Drive)Google's online solution to word processing.
- Find a way to identify each writerColor code, different fonts, separate areas of the document, etc.
- Create a single log-in for a product if necessarySometimes sharing things online is difficult, consider a group log-in using one person's dbq.edu email account.
- Cite your sources and documents right awayWith multiple people looking at, reading, annotating, and writing about each source...make sure you clearly identify where things are from.
- Assign someone to edit the document at the endThis person should look for flow, continuity, tone and language issues in addition to the regular grammar and spell-check type errors.