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Santa Monica College Library

Introduction to Research

This is a brief introduction to research in the Library, how to decide on a research topic, how to find relevant materials and how to cite them.

Finding Articles Using The Library

Popular Sources

  • Newspapers
    • current events, news of the day, local information
    • usually written by journalists or freelance writers
  • Magazines 
    • popular culture or news aimed at the general public
    • glossy and colorful with illustrations and advertising
    • references not usually provided

Scholarly Sources

  • Scholarly Journal- Academic Journals - Peer-Reviewed
    • lengthy and in depth
    • uses specialized language
    • articles are written by experts and scholars in their particular field
    • author's name and credentials always listed
    • articles always include references, works cited, and / or bibliography

Library Databases

The SMC Library subscribes to a variety of online resources which include content from: journals, magazines, newspapers, reference works and other materials. View the A-Z Database list to select a database and start searching!