Library Research Guide
Searching for scholarly academic journal articles? These databases are your best starting point.
Below are two ways to search to increase the relevancy of your search results in MLA: use options on the Advanced Search screen and expand your search terms using the Thesaurus.
Advanced in this case means special search features for literary researchers, not that you have to be a literature expert. Advanced search features include searching by:
Below is a screen shot of the Advanced Search screen, including the search options that appear when you click on the Select a Field option in the search boxes.
The Thesaurus:
Not all keywords will appear in the Thesaurus; not all terms in the Thesaurus will have alternative terms.
Below is a screenshot of the Thesaurus screen that appears for the term African American middle class. Note that the Thesaurus offers two Broader Terms and one Narrower Term: