A database contains information from published and credible works, such as magazines, encyclopedias, news articles, professional journals, and other experts. There are no advertisements, and they are updated daily so you can always get current information.
Databases require a subscription and, usually, a username and/or password. Students are lucky to have access to excellent resources through school and through the public library!
Video Tutorial: How to Use the Databases
High School Resources in Context - This is a great database for getting general information on a topic. It covers a wide range of topics as well as points of view.
Username: bulldogs
Opposing Viewpoints in Context - This database is best for getting to know different points of view on topics. The database helps break down current information on what various sides of various issues.
Username: bulldogs
Science Resources in Context - Is your research topic even slightly related to science? You might be surprised to find out it is, and this database has a lot to offer.
Username: bulldogs
Exploring Issues - If you need to gather information exploring complex issues, this database does a great job of breaking them down from multiple points of view, and connecting researchers to more resources.
Username: d101
Password: bulldogs
World Book Advanced - Provides students with thousands of articles, primary sources, and online books designed to support personalized learning and enhance digital citizenship. Contains up-to-the-minute access to worldwide news publications, government links from numerous countries, and multimedia reference materials.
Username: westernsprings
Password: worldbook
Thanks to the Secretary of State's office and the Illinois State Library, Bulldogs have access to 54 different EBSCO databases.
To access these databases, you can get to them by logging into your CLEVER account first.
The following links are only guaranteed to work while IN District 101 buildings.
Select Service Page - This link takes you to the landing page to be able to access all 54 resources while at McClure.
Explora Middle School - Information here tends to be presented more visually, covering a wide range of topics
Biography Reference Center - Who was that person who did that thing? This database is dedicated to biographies.
Health Source: Consumer Edition - Because knowing about keeping our minds and bodies well isn't just about health, it's also a business
History Reference Center - For all things social studies
Newspaper Source Plus - See the points of view of reporters from around the world and years gone by
NoveList K-8 - This resource dedicated to students up through 8th grade find reading recommendations
Science Reference Source - All manner of scientific studies can be found here
CLICK HERE to access digital copies of our article archive. Articles are in folders by topic, so find what you like and make a copy to your Google Drive.
Citing an article from the files
For those of you who are using the files, here is a citation format. Remember, each article counts as a separate source!
Structure:
Author’s Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Title of Original Source, edited by, Publisher, Year Published, URL link to LLC's Google Drive. Accessed Day Month Year.
Example:
Kelly, Mike. "School Uniforms Do Not Stifle Freedom of Expression." School Policies, edited by Jamuna Carroll, Greenhaven Press, 2008, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xGU8anr0VqfOWHqlAqQvoj3lEbXs3dJD. Accessed 11 Jan. 2023.
For those of you who are using the book collection in the LLC, this is how you cite each chapter. Remember, each chapter counts as a separate source!
Structure:
Author’s Last, First M. “Title of Article.” Title of Book, edited by, Publisher, Year Published, Page range of entry.
Example:
Brady, Lisa. "A Principal Says Drug Testing Works." Student Drug Testing, edited by Patty Jo Sawvel, Greenhaven Press, 2007, pp. 51-59.
Chicago Tribune Online - During the school year, this link allows access to issues of the Chicago Tribune from the past 30 days.
Username: bulldogs
Password: bulldogs
Gallup - Great to utilize if you need statistics on current news items
Pew Research Center - Another website full of statistics, dedicated to research on a wide range of topics
Since you now might be looking for specific types of websites/domains to use for your research, you may want to limit your web searching to sites containing a specific domain extension (.gov, .edu, .org).
Here is an easy way to do this in the Google search engine:
[your subject] site:gov or [your subject] site:edu
Example:
"organ donation" site:gov
In addition to filtering by domain extension, you can also filter to find specific information about your topic.
Example:
"organ donation" site:gov statistics
"organ donation" site:edu ethical aspects