Sourcepack

English 1000:  Researching a Current Social/Political Issue
Instructor: Leta Rappert 

This sourcepack will assist you in researching current issues (social and political) for Assignments #2 and #3.  If you need assistance, please come to the Reference Desk on the First Floor in the Information Commons or contact us via this web page:  http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/showmehow/askaquestion.htm. 
 

Find Articles

• Academic Search Premier
  Provides articles (or links to them) from journals and magazines in all subject areas. Updated continually.Coverage is 1984 to date.
• CQ Researcher
  Presents arguments on both sides of controversial issues.
  
• LexisNexis Academic
  Offers access to the fulltext of current and back issues of major newspapers, journals, newsletters, and news sources from around the world. 
  

• If you're looking at results in one of the databases listed above just click on the button next to the article citation. The article will display if it's available electronically. If there is no online access, you'll be given the opportunity to look for a print copy in the MERLIN Catalog
• If you have an article reference, but are not currently in a database, go to the MU Libraries' Gateway page and select Find a Specific Article/Journal to enter FindIt@MU.Once in FindIt@MU you're given the choice to search for a specific article or journal title. If electronic coverage is not available, check the MERLIN Catalog to see if we have a print copy of the journal.
• MU Libraries does not subscribe to all journal titles.If you find a journal article that you need, but cannot find the article using http://mulibraries.1cate.com/, click on the option Request through Interlibrary Loan/Request a Copy. You can also request an article without using the FindIt@MU feature by filling out an article request form which is available from the Book and Articles Request under About the Libraries. You will need to register the first time you use our interlibrary loan service which is called https://ill.mul.missouri.edu/MUU/logon.html. Usually you will receive the article electronically via email within a few days of placing your request.

• From the MU Libraries' Gateway, choose the MERLIN Catalog. Type in words describing the topic you are researching. Once you have a list of hits, select one that looks on-target, then examine the subject headings for that item.Try clicking on that subject to retrieve similar items.
• If you do not find enough books on your topic to meet your needs, change your search to "ALL MERLIN."By doing so you will be checking the library holdings at UMSL, UMKC, UMR and MU all at once.
• Still not enough?Click on the MOBIUS Catalog button.This expands your search to about 50 additional libraries in our network.
• Most books you find through MERLIN or MOBIUS are requestable online, simply by clicking the "Request Item" link.Books requested through MERLIN or MOBIUS take two to three working days to arrive.
• You may request books not listed in MERLIN or MOBIUS via Book and Articles Request under About the Libraries.

This SOURCEPACK is a service of Ellis Library