SCC Library Webpage

Research Guide: AHS 102 - Journal Article Summary

NOTE: These are general guidelines and helpful hints. Please check with your instructor for your specific requirements.

Start at the library's home page (http://library.sccsc.edu).

Click on "Find Articles," and then "Health Sciences" to locate the Health Science Databases.

The database that is usually used for this assignment is:

OFF-CAMPUS ACCESS: If you are off-campus, you'll need to log in. The username is your Web ID (ex: absmith), and the password is your portal password.

Once inside the database:

Above the search box, select "Subject" tab.
Under the search box, select "To peer-reviewed publications." ("To documents with full-text" should also be selected).
In the search box, type the name of the body system (or part of the system, or disease) that you are looking for (ex: gastrointestinal system).

Click "Search" magnify glass button on right.
On the search results page, make sure you are looking ONLY at "Academic Journals." You should see "Academic Journals" at the top of the page and on highlighted on the left sidebar.
Scroll through the list of results and select an article that meets the assignment requirements, including the article type on the right (i.e. Report, Article, Case Study, Clinical Report, etc. ...Some instructors will want you to only pick certain types of articles).
Click on an title to read the full-text.

When reading the article, look at the "Tools" box on the right side of the page. Click on "Print" to get a printer-friendly version of the article. Click "Email" to email the article to yourself.
MLA citation information can be found at the bottom or top of the article. If you copy the citation at the bottom, be sure to compare it to the Library's MLA handout to make any necessary formatting changes. Also, if your instructor requires the URL make sure you include it.
Click "Back to Search Results" to return to your results page and look for another article.

How to Select a Good Article:

Check the article's length. 500-3,000 words is a good range. Look for an article that has at least 2 full pages of text. Many articles have long lists of references at the end, so they are not as long as they appear.
Check the type of article -- look to the right of the article to see whether it is an "Article," a "Clinical Report," a "Case Study," etc. Check with your instructor to see what types of articles are appropriate.
Scan through the article to make sure that you will be able to understand it.
Check to make sure the article is peer-reviewed -- when reading the article, click on the title of the journal (in blue text), then make sure there is a "Yes" beside "Peer-Reviewed."
Check the "related subjects" listed to the left of the article. Make sure at least one of the subjects related to your topic.

Ask-a-Librarian: Can't come to the library? Email us using the form on our homepage (http://library.sccsc.edu) and we'll get back to you a.s.a.p.

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