How do I get the full text?
Use the Library website to find journal articles
Begin your search at the library homepage. From the LibrarySearch box, you can find books, journals, and other resources in our library catalogue in addition to searching for articles across multiple databases.
In the LibrarySearch box, type in the keywords relevant to your research topic.
For example, if your topic is about Jewish merchants in 14th century Barcelona, you can enter the keywords
jewish merchants barcelona medieval
You will get a list of results such as Articles, Books, Reviews, and more! To find scholarly articles, underneath Filter your results select "Peer-reviewed articles" under Show Only and select "APPLY FILTERS" when prompted.
Narrow down your list to get better articles
Sometimes you will get hundreds of results. Use the filters in the left hand sidebar to narrow down your list of sources. You can filter your search results by Subject, Publication Date, and Language.
You can also narrow down your search results by adding different keywords. If you are looking for a specific phrase or multi-word term, such as the Industrial Revolution, put the phrase in quotes: "industrial revolution".
Identifying book reviews
While searching for journal articles, you may come across book reviews. Examine the citation for the article to distinguish between journal articles and book reviews.
Book reviews
In the example below, you can see this is a book review as it indicates the book author's name, title, and publisher. The page numbers also indicate it's only 1 page long, suggesting it is a book review.
Use the Library website to find books
In the library homepage search box, type in the keywords relevant to your research topic. When searching for books, remember to use simple, broad keywords.
From the list of results, underneath Filter your results on the left sidebar select "Books" under Format and select "APPLY FILTERS" when prompted to see the the library catalogue search results.
Narrow down your list of books
You can refine your search with various filters on the left sidebar, such as Library, Subject, Publication Date, and Language.
For ebooks, you can also click on the Online checkbox at the top of the page underneath show only.
How to find a book in Robarts library
1. Look up the title in the library catalogue. Note the call number, for example, E76.7 .K68 2009
2. Enter the elevators on the 1st floor of Robarts Library.
The books at Robarts are on the 9th to 13th floor.The Robarts Library Stack Guide tells you which call numbers are on which floor, according to the first letter or letters A chart on the elevator also tells you which call numbers are on which floor, according to the first letter or letters. In this case, E is on the 10th floor, with most other history books.
3. Once you are on the correct floor, find the section with the correct letters. Then work your way through each line of the call numbe4. To sign out your book, take it back to the 1st floor and use one of the automatic machines. If you need help, ask at the loan services desk.
4. To sign out your book, take it back to the 1st floor and use one of the automatic machines. If you need help signing out your book, ask at the loan services desk on the 1st floor.
A primary source is a document that was created at the time of the event or subject you've chosen to study, or by people who were observers of, or participants in that event or topic.
More information:
What kinds of things can be primary sources?
Think about what kinds of primary sources might be related to your topic:
| letters | newspapers | pamphlets |
| interviews | reports | maps |
| diaries | government documents | film |
| memoirs | institutional records | photographs |
Four ways to find primary sources:
1. Start with what you already have to uncover references to primary sources. Consult your:
They can also help you identify relevant historical figures, authors, or keywords for searching library database
2. Use the library catalogue to find books and other materials
Combine keywords for different kinds of primary sources with keywords for your topic to find them in the library catalogue.
Examples:
reformation sources
world war 1914 correspondence
national socialism documents
Primary source keywords
| documents | sources | texts | diaries |
| correspondence | pamphlets | personal narratives | interviews |
3. Use reliable online primary source collections
4. Use one of the specialized libraries at U of T, such as the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, or one of our special collections.
When choosing books or articles for your paper, consider the following:
Scholarly journal articles report on original research by experts in a particular academic discipline. Often they go through a peer-review process, which means that they are evaluated by reputable scholars in the field before they are published.
Criteria for evaluating scholarly journals
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Author: |
Who wrote it? What are their credentials? |
|
Sources: |
Does the author acknowledge his or her sources? How? |
|
Content: |
Is the content substantial? Does it appear to be valid and well-researched? Does it make sense, based on your own background knowledge, or what other articles have to say on the topic? |
|
Writing: |
Is the language scholarly? Is the article well written? Do illustrations and data support the content in a scholarly fashion, or do they appear to be attention-getting, or sensational? |
|
Audience: |
Who is the article written for? Is it written for experts and researchers in the field, or for members of the general public? |
|
Journal: |
Is it published in a scholarly journal? |
RADAR (Rationale, Authority, Date, Accuracy, and Relevance)
Another helpful way to evaluate the credibility of a information source is through the framework RADAR (Rationale, Authority, Date, Accuracy, and Relevance). See the guide for using RADAR for more detailed guidelines about how to evaluate the quality and usefulness of an information source for your research
Adapted from: Mandalios, J. (2013). RADAR: An approach for helping students evaluate Internet sources. Journal of Information Science, 39(4), 470–478,
Following the instructions on your print handout, evaluate the following articles and judge which are scholarly, which are reliable but not scholarly, and which are popular and inappropriate to use for your essay. Please note that you are not required to read the entire article. Please focus on the first and last pages. Some articles are available in both html and pdf format. You can use either. If you are accessing these articles from home, some will require you to enter your UTORID and password.
How do I get the full text?
We can help you find sources about a topic, locate a specific book or article, and use library research tools effectively.
