Read the Abstract
Overwhelmed searching for research articles? You can help relieve this tension by reading the abstract of an article, book, or book chapter. Abstracts generally provide a one-to-three paragraph review of what the resource is about. Ignoring the abstract can cause you to lose valuable hours to reading unnecessary resources.
Save the PDF
Articles are generally displayed as either a PDF or HTML (text embedded within the page itself.) You can view PDFs in your browser and/or download and save them to your computer for use later. Many databases will also have a button to e-mail yourself a copy of the PDFs and/or article links for later access.
Save the Permalink
A permalink, or stable URL, should be saved to ensure that the article can be retrieved in the future. When attempting to access the article off-campus, the permalink will direct you to log into the Portal before sending you to the article.
Save the Citation
In general, databases will provide a citation formatted in various citation styles (APA, MLA, or Chicago) that can be used in a reference list. Be sure to verify the citation against the required citation style guide to ensure its accuracy.
EBSCO Database
ProQuest Database
ScienceDirect Database
Credit to High Point University Libraries for inspiration in this guide (https://guides.highpoint.edu/c.php?g=948995&p=6843604).