Searching for scholarly academic journal articles? These databases are your best starting points.
Many of our databases offer the option to search for articles written in specific languages.
Locate this option on the:
The databases are trying to match search terms to words in titles, abstracts, and the full text of articles. If you need an article written in German, try using German search terms.
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:
JSTOR searches journals covering multiple subjects, including literature and modern languages.
Use the Advanced Search page because it offers options to focus your search so that you don't get 100,000 irrelevant articles.