English 101 - Writing About Nature

Find articles in newspapers

The New York Times Online 1980+ searches the text of The Times.
Access: Library home page -->Drop menu, "Select a popular ..." --> New York Times Online 1980+

Click on Advanced Search button near the top of the screen.
Click on More Search Options. This allows you to select the Document Type you want to find, such as Editorial or Letter.
Enter your search terms, combined with AND, OR, AND NOT. Truncation symbol is the asterisk (*).
Select the field in which you want each term to be located. If you select Citation and Abstract, your search results will be more specific. If you select Document Text, your terms will appear anywhere in the article, not limited to the main theme. You will get more, but less specific results.
Select a date range.
Select Document Type.

Lexis/Nexis searches approximately 20 years worth of newspapers, providing the full text of most articles.
Access: Library home page -->Drop menu, "Select a popular ..." -->Lexis/Nexis

Select General News as the news category.
Select Major Papers as the news source.
Type your search term(s) in the supplied box(es), selecting the field in which your term(s) should appear. Choose the appropriate Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) if you are using more than one box.
The truncation symbol is the exclamation point (!).
Select date range.
Enter publication if you want to limit your results to a specific paper or newswire.
Special Tip For Finding Editorials or OpEd Pieces! Add to your search: "AND section(editorial or op ed or oped)." Pull down "Full Text."

Find articles in journals and magazines

Expanded Academic ASAP is a multi-disciplinary index to articles in journals, magazines and newspapers, from approximately 1980 - the present, many with full text.
Access: Library home page --> "Select a popular ..." -->InfoTrac.
Select Expanded Academic ASAP

In Keyword Search, enter search terms, connected with AND, OR, NOT.
Use truncation symbol, the asterisk (*), to include all endings.
If appropriate,limit to articles with full text, to refereed publications, by year(s) of publication, or by journal name. It is not necessary to select any limits.
In Subject Search, enter search term or phrase (capital punishment, abortion, nuclear weapons, etc.), and select "Narrow by subdivision."

Questions? Call me at extension 3703, or e-mail: jaaron@wheatoncollege.edu to schedule an appointment. My hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (I'm not at Wheaton on Wednesdays), from 10 to 4.

Picture credit: The Dream by Henri Rousseau

This page is maintained by Judith Aaron. Last updated on 8/25/08.
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