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Finding Sources

Academic Search Ultimate, Google Scholar, & Library research guides

Quick Links

Use these handy shortcuts to access some helpful resources. Make sure to log in on the BYU Library Website to gain full access before clicking on the links.

Keys to Success


  • Identify the core concepts that will answer your research question.
  • There is value in using both academic and public sources when researching.
    • Use advanced search techniques when searching databases. Make sure to use:
      • Keywords that reflect your selected core concepts (Learn more here).
      • Boolean operators (Learn more here).

    Highlighted Resource: Academic Search Ultimate

    Academic Search Ultimate is one resource that you can use to find academic sources (See the bottom of this page for more resources). Click through the slideshow to learn how to access and use this resource.

    More Resources


    Click on each resource below to learn more about how to effectively use it to find sources.

    • Use Google Scholar to find a variety of sources. Not all sources that you find using this resource will be of high quality. It is your responsibility to determine if each source is reliable (For more information visit Evaluating Sources).

    • The BYU Library Research Guides are great resources to find databases and other resources for specific topics. Click through the slideshow below to find out more about this valuable resource.

    • Watch the following video to learn how to search for a book on the HBLL Website.

    • In addition to being a great resource to learn about a topic, Opposing Viewpoints contains curated lists of peer-reviewed academic articles that you can use in your papers.

      Make sure to access this resource through the BYU Library website as this will give you full access to the resource. Follow these steps to gain access:

      1. Go to the BYU Library website.
      2. Log in using your Net ID by clicking on "Login" in the top right corner.
      3. Then search "Opposing Viewpoints" in the library home page search bar.
      4. Lastly, when the search results appear,click on "Opposing Viewpoints in Context."

      Find the curated list on a topic’s main page in the Academic Journals section.

      Opposing Viewpoints Finding Academic Journals

    • Read through the WRTG 150 Learning Module "Searching as Strategic Exploration."

    Research Help

    Topic Development
    Finding Sources
    Evaluating Sources
    Managing Citations
    Research & Writing Center