5.3.2 - Locating Scholarly Sources
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Identifying Suitable Sources
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Today, weβre going to discuss how to locate scholarly sources. To start, can anyone tell me what types of sources we might encounter in literary studies?
I think we have books, articles, and maybe websites?
Exactly! Now, itβs vital to differentiate between popular sources and scholarly sources. What do you think is the main difference?
Scholarly sources are usually peer-reviewed and more credible, right?
Correct! Remember this acronym: PIERβPeer-reviewed, In-depth, Evidence-based, and Reliable. This will help you identify a scholarly source. Can you think of a platform where we might find good scholarly articles?
Maybe JSTOR or Google Scholar?
Precisely! Those platforms are excellent for academic research. Let's summarize: we can find sources on JSTOR, verify their credibility using PIER, and differentiate between popular and scholarly materials.
Assessing Credibility
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Now that we know where to find scholarly sources, letβs talk about assessing their credibility. What factors should we consider?
Maybe the author's qualifications and the publication date?
Good points! Letβs create a checklist: Authorβs authority, relevance, bias, and currency. Remember the acronym ARBC to help recall these factors. Why do you think bias is significant?
Bias can skew the information provided, right? It can affect how we understand the text.
Absolutely! Bias can highlight certain perspectives while ignoring others. Letβs summarize: Use ARBC to evaluate sources and always be cautious of bias.
Academic Integrity and Citation
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Today, weβll focus on academic integrity. Why is properly citing sources important?
Itβs to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism.
Exactly! Letβs break down three methods of source integration: paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting directly. Can anyone give me an example of when you might paraphrase?
When I want to put the ideas in my own words but need to keep the original meaning?
Spot on! And how about summarizing?
Thatβs when I condense major points from a larger work.
Right again! Remember: paraphrase for detail, summarize for main ideas. That way, we're engaging ethically with our sources.
Research Process Documentation
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Our final topic today is maintaining a research log. Why do you think this is necessary?
It helps us remember what weβve read and where we found it.
Precisely! Documentation is key to tracking your thoughts and sources. An easy method is to create a spreadsheet with columns for authors, titles, publication dates, and notes. Letβs practice this together. If I find an article on Shakespeareβs influence, how would I log it?
I would write down the author, the article title, and maybe a few key points in the notes column.
Yes! Always logging your sources contributes to a transparent and credible research process. Remember to update your log regularly as you evaluate your findings.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
Students will learn how to identify suitable academic databases, literary journals, and reputable online archives while differentiating between various types of literature, including popular criticism and peer-reviewed articles. The section emphasizes the importance of critical evaluation and ethical engagement with sources.
Detailed
Locating Scholarly Sources
In this section, we explore the critical skills necessary for finding scholarly sources that contribute to high-level literary studies and academic discourse. Navigating the vast landscape of literature requires discernment in differentiating between various resources. Students are introduced to academic databases, literary journals, university presses, and reputable online archives where credible scholarly work can be found.
Key concepts include:
- Identifying Suitable Sources: Understanding the difference between popular criticism, student essays, and peer-reviewed scholarly articles is essential. Popular criticism may provide broad interpretations but lacks the rigor and credibility of scholarly work.
- Assessment of Credibility: Students learn how to critically evaluate sources based on factors such as authority, relevance, bias, and currency. This skill is vital for integrating evidence into their own scholarly arguments effectively.
- Academic Integrity: Emphasizing ethical engagement, the section discusses paraphrasing, summarizing, direct quoting, and the importance of proper citation to avoid plagiarism.
- Research Process Documentation: Keeping a research log helps track all consulted sources, providing transparency in the academic inquiry process. This aspect prepares students for constructing a well-supported argument in their work.
In summary, mastering the art of locating and ethically engaging with scholarly sources is a key component of independent literary inquiry in preparation for university-level study.
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Identifying Scholarly Sources
Chapter 1 of 2
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Chapter Content
Identifying appropriate academic databases, literary journals, university presses, and reputable online archives.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk discusses the importance of identifying where to find scholarly sources for research. Academic databases, literary journals, and university presses are formal venues that publish peer-reviewed articles and books. These sources provide credible information compared to informal online resources.
Examples & Analogies
Think of academic databases like a library where every book has been vetted for quality. Just as you wouldn't trust a random person on the street to recommend good books, you shouldn't rely on non-scholarly sources for your research.
Differentiating Between Source Types
Chapter 2 of 2
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Chapter Content
This involves differentiating between popular criticism, student essays, and peer-reviewed scholarly articles.
Detailed Explanation
Here, we learn to differentiate between various types of literature and research articles. Popular criticism is often written for a general audience and may lack academic rigor. Student essays might be insightful but aren't always authoritative. Peer-reviewed scholarly articles have undergone rigorous review by experts in the field, making them the most reliable sources for academic research.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine visiting a food critic who only eats fast food versus one who has trained at a top culinary school. The chefβs reviews hold more weight because they come from someone with expertise, just like peer-reviewed articles are more reliable than casual opinions.
Key Concepts
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Scholarly Sources: Peer-reviewed and credible academic materials essential for research.
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Evaluating Sources: The process of assessing a source's credibility and reliability based on various criteria.
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Academic Integrity: The ethical approach to using others' work in research, including proper citation to avoid plagiarism.
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Research Log: A practical tool used to document sources and insights during the research process.
Examples & Applications
Using JSTOR to find a peer-reviewed article about a specific literary theme.
Creating a research log to track all articles and their key insights during the research for an essay.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
In research field, donβt go astray, Peer-reviewed, reliable, leads the way.
Stories
Once upon a time, a student named Alex was lost in a lawn of books. Then, they learned about a powerful tool called a research log that helped them keep track of their ideas and sources, leading to acing their paper!
Memory Tools
Remember: PIER for identifying sources: Peer-reviewed, In-depth, Evidence-based, Reliable.
Acronyms
USE ARBC for assessing sources
Authority
Relevance
Bias
Currency.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Scholarly Sources
Academic materials that are peer-reviewed and provide credible and evidence-based information.
- Peerreviewed
A quality control process where experts evaluate an article before publication to ensure its validity and reliability.
- Citation
A reference to a published or unpublished source, acknowledging where information comes from.
- Plagiarism
The practice of using someone else's work or ideas without proper attribution.
- Research Log
A method for documenting sources and insights gained during the research process.
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