Background Information / Topic Reports Use these databases to search for research topic ideas, and to read full-length reports on a variety of research topics. These are best for background information on long research papers.		Newspaper / Magazine Articles: Use these databases to search for articles from magazines, trade journals, and newspapers.  Articles from these sources should make up most up most of your research.
Issues & Controversies: A good source for background information. Gives clear explanations of opposing points of view, as well as many graphs and statistics, so students can quickly grasp the essentials of even the most complex topics. CQ Researcher:  In-depth reports on health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Each report is researched and written by an experienced journalist. Provides researchers with an introductory overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con Today's Science: Topics in science, medicine, and technology. Easy-to-read background information from the publishers of Issues & Controversies. Culture Grams: In-depth reports on the countries of the world. Includes information about each country's government, economy, culture, and climate, as well as current statistical information.		EBSCO: An excellent starting point for research on almost any topic, EBSCO includes content from many high-quality journals, and is easy to search. TIP: limit search to "full text" only. eLibrary: A good source for general research containing magazine & newspaper articles, books, pictures, maps, radio / TV transcripts, and audio/video.  SIRS: Quality magazine and journal articles on a wide variety of social issues. ProQuest: Education topics from some of the best journals in education. Union-Tribune Archives: Search for articles from old issues of the San Diego Union Tribune. Great for researching local topics! CountryWatch: News articles, maps, and statistics for countries around the world.

For passwords to access these databases off-campus, please ask in the library.