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SOCI (McEntee): Semi-Scholarly Sources

When and Where Can I Access Databases?

Databases are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can use them on or off campus. If you are using them from off campus you will be prompted to put in your SU username and password (the same one you use for Gull Net, MyClasses, or an SU computer).

News Sources

This is just one person's version of evaluating newspapers. Which particular titles are where is less important than how she approached this. Take a look at the axes. It is important to note that not only do we need to pay attention to the political bias, but also how complex the publication is. Something extremely simplistic or sensational can be just as misleading as a political bias.


Graph mapping news sources by complexity and political bias

Source

For a complete description of the image

Data

Semi-scholarly Sources

Getting Full Text

Some databases will have the full text of the entire article available within the database, others will only have a citation for the article. When there is only a citation available, you will see a yellow find it button. This button will give you options for getting a full text version of the article. If we have access to it in another database it will be linked there.

If it says "Not Available Online" then look for "Check Availability in SU Catalog"; if you see that then we may have a hardcopy version on the shelf in the library.

If you don't have either of those options then you can request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)! There are loads of ways to get a copy of an article you are interested in.