"Peer-reviewed" articles, also known as "scholarly" articles, are those that have been through a thorough review process before being published.  At this level of coursework, it is expected that the articles being cited in your papers will be peer-reviewed. Most databases offer the option of limiting search results to such articles. Take advantage of this option whenever possible.

While the library offers a wide variety of databases with full-text articles, not every journal is in every database. If the database you are searching does not offer full text for the desired journal, check the journal title by using the Journals  tab to see if the full text is offered in another database. 

Be sure to check the dates of coverage closely. Some journals are only available for a limited number of years and many do not offer access to the latest 12 months.

After selecting an issue that interests you, it will be necessary to obtain background information on the subject. This material is best found in journal articles. Depending on the topic, there are various databases to search. Select a database to begin with, based on the main focus of your policy issue.