UPDATE (5/20/26 @ 7:30am AZ time):
The GCU Library's updated version of LopeCat, the library’s online catalog, is live! For more details on what has changed, visit the What's New Guide .
History Teacher Certification Exam: US History
Reading Up on U.S. History
You can visit the pages in the side menu for recommended readings, or visit the U.S. History in Context database below to explore U.S. history topics on your own.
- U.S. History In Context This link opens in a new windowFull Text
Offering outstanding primary and secondary history sources combined with the media-rich selections that today's users demand, U.S. History In Context delivers the best titles from Macmillan, Scribner, and other world-class sources. Students will find comprehensive coverage of the most-studied topics, from the arrival of Vikings in North America 1,000 years ago to Vietnam, Watergate, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Types of Sources in Gale Databases
Several types of sources are available:
- Primary sources, generally first hand accounts.
- Reference book entries.
- Academic journal articles.
- Articles from magazines and newspapers.
- Statistics.
Reference book entries will generally be the best place to start. Three articles in each category will show on the main page. Click on the category to view all the articles.
Article Information
Each article lists important information:
- The title, author, and what source the article originally came from.
- If the article is peer-reviewed.
- The date.
- The word length and the reading level. Gale uses a star system in a colored box to indicate reading level, the fewer stars the easier an article is to read. Most academic articles will be at level four or five, while newspapers are usually written at level three.
Advanced Search in Gale Databases
- To reach the advanced search, click the option under the search box at the top of the page.
- Advanced search will allow you to use keywords to search.
- If you need more instructions on how search works, or how to use special features like wildcards, instructions are provided on the page.
- You can search just within a topic as well by using "Search Within Results".
- You can set a date limit to ensure your search results are recent.
Citing From Gale Databases
Gale databases include a citation tool to help you cite the articles in it. As with other automatic citation tools, you will need to examine the computer generated citation against the format and rules on the Citing Sources Guide . Check for accuracy, especially in punctuation and capitalization.
- Click "Cite" on the tools menu across the top of the article.
- Change the citation format to APA 7th Edition.
- Copy the citation and paste it into your document. Correct the formatting, checking for capitalization, italics, and correct links.
- Gale's automatic citation tool will include a link at the end that will usually not be the correct link.
- Click "Get Link" on the tool menu to get a correctly formatted permalink. Permalinks allow you to return directly to an article.
- Look at the top of the article to find the DOI if there is one, the citation tool may leave it out. You may need to correct the formatting.
