Skip to Main Content

English Composition: Find Articles

Discovery Search

The Discovery Search box on the CSU library homepage is a great place to begin your research. This Search All box searches most of the library's databases all at once. 

Developing Key Words Interactive Handout

Databases

For a complete list of databases, click the Databases button on the CSU Library homepage. The following databases are good starting points:

Accessing the databases listed on this guide require you to first be logged into the myCSU Student Portal.

  • Ensure that you are logged into myCSU
  • Click on the desired database link, which should immediately direct you to the database interface.
  • If you have any questions, contact us 24 hours per day through our live Chat Service

Example Search

1.) Use keywords or key phrases instead of long sentences or the entire assignment instructions. 

Example Assignment Prompt: Write an essay about the benefits of organic farming 

Keywords/Key Phrases:

  • "organic farming" 
  • benefits 

Note: When using key phrases, place quotation marks around the phrases to search them as an exact unit of information. 

2.) Use Boolean Operators to break up your search. 

  • AND - Limits your search (fewer results) by combining search terms 
  • OR - Expands your search (more results) by including related terms 

Phrase Searching

To search library databases, try different keywords/short phrases. To phrase search, place phrases inside quotation marks or parentheses. This tells the database to search the phrase as a unit. 

For example:

"organic farming"

(organic farming)

Find Articles: Video Tutorials

Saving Research in Library Databases