WR 323 Writing as Critical Inquiry: Search for Articles

Resources and strategies to complete Research Sources Assignment.

Searching for Articles

To identify articles that you don't know exist, you will want to use a database.  Databases can be general, covering a wide variety of subject areas, or specific covering only one discipline or group of disciplines.  Library databases generally use Boolean logic and search the title, subject headings and abstract of an article.  Some databases search the full text of the articles that are included.

Search for Known Article Title in the PSU Library Catalog

The PSU Library Catalog is a great place to search for articles in selected databases. Once you have found an article that you are interested in, check for the link, Online Access, as shown in the screenshot of the journal article citation. Select this link and then sign into the PSU Library catalog to access the article. Note that the article can be available in more than one database. If there is no Online Access link, there will be an Interlibrary Loan & Article Delivery to request the article.

Article Online Access Link Portland State University Library Catalog

database access for an article

Requesting Books & Articles

While the Portland State Library has a large collection of books, articles, and journals, we may not have a specific item you are looking for. In that case, you may be able to get it for you from another library.

  • If you find an item in the catalog and our copy is not available you can Request from other libraries

screenshot of catalog request from other libraries