When searching the library databases and the Web, try these terms:
Once you have determined what time and place you are writing about, narrow your search terms:
You need to be sure that you are using the best possible sources of information. You will likely find a variety of sources during your research: books, articles, Web documents, interviews, films, and more. For each and every source you use you want to make sure it passed the CRAAP test:
Currency - Is the content presented current enough for your project? For your specific research question?
Relevancy - Does it answer your research question?
Authority - Does the author have relevant expertise on the topic about which she is writing?
Accuracy - Is the information provided correct?
Point of View - Is the information biased? Is the author trying to persuade you to believe a certain way?
Watch the brief video below to learn more about the CRAAP Test:
If you'd like much more in-depth instruction about the process of conducting research, please check out our guides:
Define your topic--What do you mean by ideal feminine beauty? Who decides what is "ideal"?
For help thinking through this topic, try these overview articles from the Gale eBooks. See below for a link to the database, or just click on one of the articles to read it.
Body Work:beauty and self-image in American culture by 
Beauty Imagined: a history of the global beauty industry by 
Battleground: women, gender, and sexuality by 
Becoming Women: The Embodied Self in Image Culture by 
Decades of Beauty by 
Looking Good: College Women and Body Image, 1875-1930 by Before searching the Web, think about agencies or organizations that are likely to collect and publish the information you seek.
For guidance on searching the Web, see Google for Researchers.
Additionally, below are links to some potentially useful Web sites.
All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.
Search using the Key Search Words at the top of this guide, or use words more specific to your topic.
If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in. Once you click on the name of a database, simply enter your student ID (without the W) and your six-digit birth date.
Getting help has never been easier. Your MJC librarians are here to help.
Phone:
Text: (209) 710-5270
Your instructor should tell you which citation style they want you to use. Click on the appropriate link below to learn how to format your paper and cite your sources according to a particular style.