Scholarly Journal vs. Magazine Article Magazine indexes are reference sources which help you locate magazine articles on various subjects. Online, ProQuest's PA Research II Periodicals provides similar coverage. For printed indexes, it's easiest just to ask at the Reference Desk. We'll use an excerpt from the Reader's Guide to discuss the printed index. Look up your subject alphabetically.
Subject headings appear in bold print, flush to the left margin.
Pay attention to any See also references which may be listed under your subject. Subheadings also help you narrow your search. Each indented cluster of information is a citation to an article on your topic. Sometimes the index entry will include, following the basic citation, an Abstract . An abstract is simply a summary of the main points of the article.