Full text - immediate access to the entire article
Peer reviewed - an extra step in the editing process when the manuscript is reviewed by subject experts before publishing
Subject - the official terminology for a concept used by authors, editors, publications, databases, etc. (Example: In the medical field, the best terminology to search for the concept of a heart attack is cardiac arrest.)
Click here to see an extensive list of library terms and definitions.
Is English not your native language? If so, check out this multilingual glossary that will translate library terms for you!
Subject searching - conduct a subject search instead of a keyword search
Quotation marks - use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase, such as "design thinking"
Limit your search results by:
Use the Help page to learn more advanced search strategies that are unique to that resource
"Best practices" - widely accepted processes that are considered the most effective
Impact - shows the effect of something
Statistics - more likely to retrieve data
Outcomes - the anticipated or actual results of a study
Choose a topic that interests you, one that will help you to learn more about your major and your future career. News sites and magazines are great places for ideas.
Use encyclopedias and other reference tools both online and in print to gain some depth in your topic. Learn about recent developments and see what's important to scholars in your area of interest.
Use Library databases and the HU Library Catalog to find information on your topic. Visit the "Databases by Title" page for suggestions on databases to search.
Now that you have all your information, you should be able to write your paper. Be sure to follow your instructor's guidelines for the assignment.
For help with APA formatting and/or citation, visit our APA guide.
If you need assistance, please contact the Student Services staff at Tutoring@HarrisburgU.edu to schedule an appointment or request a tutor.
Have one or two classmates review the first draft of your paper. Here are some guiding questions that will help them provide you with good feedback.