Pretend you're asked to write an analytical essay regarding the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles. The issue is complex, with many different contributing causes: economical, social, medical, and physical. Focus on one aspect and argue for a potential solution that could improve the plight of the homeless in Los Angeles.
Pro-tip #1: Get specific about WHAT you're looking for and WHERE to look for it
1.1 Focus on WHAT you're looking for: specific concepts / search terms
| Synonyms | Key Concepts | Related Concepts |
| homeless, homelessness | poverty, impoverished, poor, low income | unemployment, unemployed |
| unhoused, unsheltered | housing shortage, housing crisis, rent burden | addiction, substance abuse, alcoholism |
| displaced, displacement | food insecurity, food scarcity | mental illness, mentally ill |
| chronic homelessness, hidden homelessness, homeless youth | domestic violence |
1.2 Focus on WHERE to search for best sources: Library databases? OneSearch? The open web? Other?
To find credible articles (from magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals) use a library database. Some of the most useful databases include...
| ProQuest | Opposing Viewpoints in Context | JSTOR |
| EBSCOhost | US Newsstream |
To find credible books and articles (all at once!) use the library's OneSearch
If you can't find what you need in a library resource, searching on the open web may help (especially for data sets).
Activity: Where is the best place to search for the following source types?
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