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Cluster 70: Evolution of Cosmos and Life

Mapping Your Research Strategy

Not sure what to write about? This video tutorial will help you come up with a topic!

To Google or Not to Google?

Google is one way to identify and locate materials relevant to your topic.  You must critically evaluate the content you find on the Internet to determine whether it is a worthy source. Beware of articles from content farms. Google is useful for finding news articles, websites, blogs, trade association and government publications, and other materials freely available on the Web.

What Google will not give you, in most cases, is access to full-text articles in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals. The UCLA Library subscribes to numerous electronic databases that provide you with access to these articles for your academic research.

You need to enter the databases from the UCLA Library's website in order to download the articles for free. You can also use Google Scholar to identify articles that UCLA owns. Don't ever pay for an article online! Contact us and we will assist you with finding it.

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Why Encyclopedias?

Encyclopedias are a good place to start if you need an overview of a topic you are unfamiliar with. They will often include a bibliography of sources that you can consult for more information. Click on title links for access to electronic versions.