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Language and Culture

Your guide to resources that support Spanish and French majors/minors as well as classes in Asian languages and Arabic

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Search Tips: Basic Searching in EBSCO


To create a Basic Search:

  1. Enter your search terms in the Find field on the Basic Search screen.

  2. Click the Search Options link, if you would like to use any of the optional Limiters or Expanders. To close the Search Options, click the link again.

  3. Select a specific search mode, such as "Find all of my search terms," or "SmartText Searching."

  4. Apply Limiters such as Full Text or Publication type; or use search options that expand your search, such as "Apply related words." 

  5. Click the Search button. The Result List displays.

  6. The search field is displayed above the Result List. Your search terms, limiters and expanders are retained.  

  7. To revise your search, you can apply the limiters under Limit To on the left or click the Show More link to view all available limiters.

 

Research databases
Limit Your Results
JSTOR Logo
Search for Articles, Books, and more in JSTOR

Search Tips: Basic Searching in JSTOR

Using the Basic Search

Place words within quotation marks to search for exact phrases (“to be or not to be”).

Use Boolean operators to construct a better search (“tea trade” AND china).


Search Tips: Basic Searching in ProQuest

  • Use "quotation marks" to search for exact phrases.
  • Separate terms with OR to find any of your search terms.

Full-Text 
Checking the Full-text limit will restrict your search to only search and retrieve records containing full-text.

Peer-Reviewed
Checking the Peer-reviewed limit will restrict your search to only search and retrieve records that are indexed in peer-reviewed journals. Peer-reviewed journals are a subset of scholarly journals and are defined as journals that undergo a review process where other experts (peers) in the field review the work before it is published in the journal. Peer-reviewed journals are also commonly known as refereed journals.

 

 

 

 

With Google Scholar you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts, and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities, and other web sites.


Search Google Scholar from here:

Google Scholar Search

Be sure to link Google Scholar to the MSMU Library to get free access to many library resources.

To do this from the Google Scholar homepage:

  • Click on Settings in the upper-right corner, or from the menu
  • Click on "Library Links" on the left
  • Type in "MSMU" or "Mount Saint Mary's"
  • Then check the box that says "MSMU Library- Full-Text @ MSMU"
  • Now your results will link to the MSMU libraries' resources. 

  • Make sure that you select Mount Saint Mary's University- LOS ANGELES - otherwise, you may end up connected to the other Mount Saint Mary's in Maryland.
  • Once you are connected to MSMU you will see library links on the right-hand side "Full-text @ MSMU"

 

Selected Databases

Find A Specific Article


Need to find a specific article that you have a citation, title, or author for?
 

1: Know the Journal Title? Search E-Journals

Virtually all journals that MSMU has full-text access to online are indexed in our E-Journal search. Simply type in the title, hit search, and you will find all the databases where you can access the journal.

2: Only Have the Article Title? Try Google Scholar

If you don't have the full citation, try using Google Scholar to find the article. Check out Google Scholar Search Tips here.

3: Can't Find it Anywhere? Request it through Article Request (Document Delivery)

If you cannot find the article using the first 2 steps, we probably do not have immediate full-text access to the article, but that doesn't mean that we cannot get it for you! Try requesting it through Document Delivery.

Articles are usually delivered within 2-3 business days.

More on Articles


Visit the guide below for more on how to:

  • Find Articles
  • Use Search Strategies
  • Use Keywords
  • Use Google Scholar
  • Find Full Text
  • Order articles with Article Request (Document Delivery)