Instruction & Outreach Librarian
For Instructors
Faculty & instructors, if you would like a custom research guide for your WRI class, or information about scheduling a research instruction session, please contact your ZSR Library liaison.
Getting Started
Welcome! This research guide is intended for both disciplinary and interdisciplinary research projects for Writing Studies. To see additional subject guides and discipline-specific resources, check out the complete list of Subject Guides.
If you would like additional assistance with refining a research topic, finding data or information, using databases effectively, and other library-related needs, please get in touch with me or set up a personal research session!
- Meghan Webb, Research Librarian for Writing Studies
Databases to Help You Develop Your Research Topic
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowContains reports and analysis on issues in the news including health, social trends and issues, criminal justice, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Great resource for background information on current news, hot topics, and social issues. Coverage back to 1923. Coverage: 1991-
- Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new windowThis comprehensive multidisciplinary database delivers credible facts and current insight into today's most debated political and social issues. Contains periodical content that covers current events, news and commentary, pro/con viewpoints, reference articles, interactive maps, infographics, and more.
- Gale eBooks This link opens in a new windowSearch across hundreds of subject encyclopedias and other reference works. A great place to find background information on almost any research topic. Includes a topic finder for help with narrowing or broadening your research topic. Coverage: varies
General Research Databases
- Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new windowProvides access to journals covering the social sciences, humanities, education, and more. Good general-purpose database for researching most topics. Coverage: 1985-
- ProQuest Central This link opens in a new windowIndexes and provides full-text access to scholarly journals, newspapers, magazines, dissertations, working papers, and market reports across all major subject areas.
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowA full-text database of archived issues of academic journals. Since JSTOR is a backfiles project, a typical coverage range is the beginning of a journal until three or five years ago. Supported in part by the Dail Endowment Fund. Coverage: Varies