A guide on how to log on and effectively utilize Argo Community High Schools EBSCOhost databases.

1. Argo Learning Resource Center
Research Tools
How to Effectively Use EBSCOhost Database for Research
By Nicholas Berrios

2. What is EBSCOhost?
• EBSCOhost is a subscription based research database that archives and catalogs
newspapers, journals, magazines, and other scholarly sources and makes them
accessible to libraries and educational institutions.
• The amount of information found in EBSCOhost will vary from institution to
institution based on their subscription, so you may find different results using
your Argo EBSCOhost database than you would using you local public library, or
eventually your college or university library.

3. Finding EBSCO
The link to EBSCOHost can be found
under the Learning Resource Center
page on the school website.
From the Homepage, click on School
Resources in the menu bar.
Then click on Learning Resource
Center in dropdown menu.

4. Finding EBSCO
Once on the Learning Resource Center
page, scroll to the bottom.
Under the “Quick Links” section, click
the LRC Databases link.

5. Finding EBSCO
EBSCOhost is the second site listed on
the LRC Databases page.
There is a brief description of EBSCOhost
and then some very important
information. The Username and Password
needed to log in.
Click on the EBSCOhost logo to get to
the sign-in page.

6. Getting Signed In
Finally, you are at the login screen. Input
the super secret User ID and Password
provided below, then click login.
User ID: Argo
Password: Argo

7. Using EBSCO
There are two main ways I recommend you use
EBSCOhost.
When you already know your topic, and you
are ready to narrow your research, I suggest
going to EBSCOhost.
If you haven’t settled on a topic yet and are still
exploring, you could give Explora a try.
For now, click the top link to select your
databases.

8. Using EBSCO
You will land on a page that will ask you to
choose what databases you want to search
within.
MAS Ultra is the largest database we subscribe
to, and will be where the majority of your
sources are found.
Newspaper Source is just that, news articles
that have been published as well as news
transcripts.
TOPICsearch is not as robust at MAS Ultra but
will include things such as book reviews and
government information.
I suggest clicking the select all box and then hit
continue.

9. Using EBSCO
You will land on a page that looks pretty similar
to the Google page, with a few additional
options.
There are a few different modes you can
choose from for searching on the bottom.
Boolean search allows you to use quotations
and modifiers such as “AND” or “NOT”
between your search terms to narrow your
results.
All search terms will automatically add “AND”
between you search terms.
Any search terms will automatically add “OR”
between your search terms.

10. Preform Your Search
Choose a couple of key words or phrases
that fit what you are searching for and
give it a try.
Even if your specific terms don’t produce
any results, EBSCOhost has a built in smart
search that will take key words and
produce additional results.

11. Using Search Results
Once you start searching, there will be a Refine
Results menu on the left hand side of the search
results.
The Current Search box will always contain your
search terms and any limiters you may have
active.
To activate a limiter, click on any of the
categories in the Refine Results menu to access
additional limiting options.
Utilizing your limiters will allow you to refine
results based on assignment parameters. If a
teacher is only allowing peer reviewed items, or
is not allowing news articles, this is how you can
filter to get appropriate results.

12. Using Search Results
While scrolling through your results you may
come across some items that you want to review
a little further, but don’t want to look at just yet.
On the right hand side of each title, there is a
blue folder with a plus sign. If you click this icon,
it will add the item to your folder and the icon
will change to a yellow folder.
You can access your folder by clicking folder in
the top menu bar.
This save folder is temporary and will reset itself
after you’ve closed the browser, so be careful
not to lose saved results by accidently closing
the window before you are done.

13. Using Search Results
If you click on the title of a search result you will
get some more detailed information on the
work.
During the research gathering process, the
Abstract is going to be your best friend. It will
give you a brief summary of the work to help
you decide if its relevant to your topic.
If a PDF is available, you will be given the option
to view a full pdf on the left hand side.
On the right, you will find other valuable actions,
such as the option to print, email, save, or get a
citation.

14. Choosing a Topic
What if you haven’t chosen a topic yet,
and you want some inspiration to help
you narrow your idea.
This is when Explora comes in handy.
Instead of clicking on the top link for
databases, click on Explora for Secondary
Schools.

15. Exploring Explora
Explora acts a little more like an encyclopedia
than a traditional database, but it is still pulling
all of the same information from the databases
we explored in the standard version of EBSCO.
In the top carousel you will find different
featured topics based on the day and the
season.
On the bottom, there are different subjects and
sub-categories within the subjects, making it
easy to click and explore.

16. For More Help
If you have any additional questions
regarding databases or EBSCO, stop by the
circulation desk or Mr. Berrios’ office in the
Learning Resource Center.