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Researching Your Cultural Artifact: Getting Started

This guide was created to help Prof. Aguirre's class research cultural artifacts to prepare for their informative speeches.
United Skates

United Skates

As America's last standing roller rinks are threatened with closure, UNITED SKATES spotlights a community fighting in a racially charged environment to save the underground African-American subculture of roller skating.

Hoop Dreams

Hoop Dreams

Two ordinary inner-city Chicago kids dare to reach for the impossible—professional basketball glory—in this epic chronicle of hope and faith.

15 A quinceanera story

15: A QuinceaƱera Story

A "quinceañera" is a coming-of-age celebration for a Latina girl’s 15th birthday, marking her transition from girl to woman. But for many American Latina teenagers, it is an event that means much more.

Reference Sources   person with a book head

Once you have chosen a topic for your paper, use general reference sources to get background information on your topic. Reference books such as the encyclopedias, dictionaries and handbooks, and the current issue titles are a good starting point for your research because they help you become better acquainted with your topic.

See the lists below for some selected reference sources available online and in print. Ask a librarian if you need help finding more resources.

Online reference resources require login for off-campus use.  Enter your Cerritos College login when prompted.  For more login information see the Database Login page.

Here are some of the library's online reference resources which can help you get some background information on your topic.  These resources are available on and off campus.

Here are some reference books that are located in the library's Reference area. Although they cannot be checked out, students are able to photocopy pages.

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