Skip to Main Content

CA 110: Public Speaking: Academic Journal Articles

Library resources for Public Speaking at the University of South Alabama

Academic Article Basics

  • Databases are collections of many articles that we can search for all at once! They can be general or specialize in a subject.
  • Some options:
  • When you want to save and share an article, don't copy/paste the URL at the top of the page. This URL is unstable! Find the share option or the link option to create a permanent link.

Journal Articles Search Video

Tricks for Choosing Search Terms

Using Your Topic

Turn your topic into a few search terms.

  1. Write out your topic: How does playing football affect young children's social development?
  2. Pick the important terms:
    1. Football
    2. Young children
    3. Social development
  3. Write out your important terms and other options, separated by OR.
    1. Football
    2. "Young children" OR kids OR youth
    3. "Social development" OR Cooperativeness OR Assertiveness
  4. Each topic is in its own search term textbox.

Using an Article You Like

Look at that article's keywords. Keywords are usually written underneath the article's listing in your search results. 

By reusing the keywords, you can speak that database's "language".

Using Search Suggestions

Some databases give you suggestions for search terms when you start typing in a search box.

Always check before you select a string of terms. Some of the terms might not fit your topic!