Find items in UIC Library collections, including books, articles, databases and more.
Find items on the UIC Library website, including research guides, help articles, events and website pages.
During your library sessions, you will be learning the basics of how to conduct college-level research. Your instructor and the librarians have developed these sessions to help you complete your research assignments as successfully as possible. After the sessions you should be able to:
If you need more help once you start researching, just ask a librarian!
The following techniques can improve your success when searching in the article databases.
Enter phrases in quotes: "mass media," "michelle obama"
Use truncation symbols to search for alternate word endings: In most databases, entering politic* searches for politic, politics and political
If one term doesn't work, try a few others. Experiment with different vocabulary related to your topic. Brainstorm ideas for relevant keywords and use background sources such as wikipedia, Facts on File Issue and Controversies or CQ Researcher for suggestions.