You have to start by learning something about your topic. Preliminary reading will help orient you to your topic, help you focus on your unique interests on it, help you begin to understand the complexities of the conversation taking place about your topic, and give you the perspective you need in order to begin to exploring your more fully.
The library databases below are filled with in-depth, reliable overview articles from magazines, journals, encyclopedias, and the Web.
All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.
If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in just like you do for your student email and Canvas.
Why search here? Use this database when you want to explore your topic from a global perspective or to analyze and understand the most important issues of the modern world with a global awareness.
What's included: You'll find news, global viewpoints, reference materials, country information, primary source documents, videos, statistics, and more.
Why search here? Use this database for preliminary reading as you start your research. You'll learn about your topic by reading authoritative topic overviews on a wide variety of subjects.
What's included: Gale eBooks is comprised of subject, specialized encyclopedias with articles written by scholars and experts.
Why search here? Use this database when you want to find comprehensive, unbiased reporting and analysis to get background information on issues in the news.
What's included: Overview reports of topics related to health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy in America.
Why search here? This is a great database to use when you want to explore different viewpoints on controversial or hot-button issues.
What's included: It includes pro/con articles, court cases, primary sources, videos, media, editorials, and news on more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Use the search or browse topics by subject or A to Z.
Use the words below to search for useful information.
You'll use the library catalog to search for books, ebooks, articles, and more.
To access eBooks if you're off campus, you'll need to log in just like you do for your MJC email and Canvas courses.
All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.
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.
Why search here? Use this database to study the relationship between human beings and the environment, with well-researched and accessible information on topics ranging from global warming to recycling to alternate fuel sources and beyond. It draws on the connection between the environment and disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology, and what can be done at each level to minimize the effects.
What's included: GreenFILE is comprised of scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports. The initial release includes more than 600 titles, dating back to 1913, and provides the full text from open access titles.
Why search here? When you want to find broad coverage on almost any topic you need to research at MJC, use Gale databases to search over 35 databases simultaneously.
What's included: Gale databases include articles previously published in journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
Why search here? Search 22 databases at the same time that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. This is a good resource to use when you want to delve deeper into your subject.
What's included: EBSCO databases include articles previously published in academic journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
Why search here? Use Access World News when you need to find current news stories. It's especially useful for local and California news. This is your source for The Modesto Bee from January 1989 to the present.
What's included: Articles from of local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers as well as full-text content of key international sources. It includes in-depth special reports and hot topics from around the country.
Watch this short video to learn how to find The Modesto Bee.