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History 502 -- Krivulskaya

Internet Searches

After searching the library catalog and databases, you may want to try the internet. There are good and bad points to this. 

  • A LOT turns up in the result set unless you have a very carefully structured search phrase. 
  • Access does not equal quality or accuracy, you will need to evaluate the content as with any other source (see Secondary Sources main page for how to evaluate.) 
  • A hit does not guarantee you have access to the content (hello, Amazon!)
  • Content may only be in pieces due to copyright or author restrictions. 
  • Wading through unsuitable hits costs you time and effort and impacts your time to analyze your resources and write your paper! 

Prepare: 

  • Strategize your search by using accurate and scholarly terms to describe your topic based on your prior research. 
  • Set up your Google Scholar Preferences to provide links to material we have at CSUSM.
  • Know that you may only find a citation and not the full text but you can request the item through Interlibrary Loan.
  • Ask for help! 

Here is how to set your Google Scholar Preferences to assist in accessing full text from the CSUSM collections.