Skip to Main Content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

ENGL 100 & 105 - How Students Succeed: Search Strategy

Searching OneSearch

OneSearch (***To log into our databases off-campus you'll need to use your email or Canvas login.)

Search most of Skyline Library's article databases and book catalog to find a wide range of articles from academic journals, popular magazines, newspapers and reference sources, e-books & other documents, plus print books available in the library.

Click on the link above to open a new database window

  • To search for more than one "concept", click on Advanced Search below the Search box.
  • In each search box, type the search word(s) or phrase(s) for a separate concept.
  • Use quote marks (“ ”) around search phrases (multiple words that should be searched together), e.g. “student success”
  • Use an asterisk * to  search words with alternate endings, such as empower* (achieve, achieving, achievement)  

 

Example:

 "childhood stress"

 achievement

 students

  • Click the “Search” button to begin a search
  • Based on your results, add additional synonymous words or phrases for each concept, if appropriate, with ORs in between each word or phrase

Example:

"childhood stress OR "childhood trauma" 

 success OR achievement OR performance 

 academic OR student OR college

 

On the results page, click on an article title to see detailed information and a summary of the article.

  • To see the full-text of an article, click on PDF Full Text or HTML Full Text at the left of the detailed information page
  • To print or e-mail an article, click on the print or e-mail buttons on the right task bar. A source citation will also be sent when you email a document. You can select the citation format (MLA, APA, Chicago) from the menu in the email box.

Searching Google

To do a Google search with the same search words already entered, click “Search” in the Google box on the “Extend Your Search” column on the right side of the results page

  • To limit to a specific domain, use site: in front of the domain name (no spaces), e.g.
  •    site:.edu   will limit a search to just .edu sites
       site:.edu OR site:.gov   will limit a search to either .edu or .gov sites
       -site:.com  will exclude .com
  • To limit to a specific format, use filetype:pdf (or ppt, doc)
  • To limit to a specific website, use site: in front of the website address (no spaces), e.g.
       site:nytimes.com   will limit a search to just the N.Y. Times website        
       site:sfgate.com      will limit a search to just the S.F. Chronicle website

The Atlantic                         (theatlantic.com)

The New Yorker                  (newyorker.com)

NPR                                    (npr.org)

New York Times                  (nytimes.com) 

Washington Post                 (washingtonpost.com)

  • When you find a relevant web page in Google results, you can find other pages on similar topics by using Google’s “Similar” option:
       - Click on the pull-down arrow to the right of the green URL line of a Google result
       - Then click on "Similar", if available (not available for all results)
  • Limit by time period:
       - Click on “Search Tools” at the top of the results page;
       - Then click on “Any Time” pull-down menu.

In-class Assignment