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Characteristics of Scholarly Writing and Evaluating Secondary Sources

Characteristics of Scholarly Writing and Evaluating Secondary Sources. Scholarly writings. Identifiable characteristics: Specialized topic Written by academics for an academic audience Author ’ s name, credentials and affiliation listed Usually includes a literature review

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Characteristics of Scholarly Writing and Evaluating Secondary Sources

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  1. Characteristics of Scholarly Writing and Evaluating Secondary Sources

  2. Scholarly writings • Identifiable characteristics: • Specialized topic • Written by academics for an academic audience • Author’s name, credentials and affiliation listed • Usually includes a literature review • Extensively footnoted • Generally not many graphics

  3. Scholarly/Academic Journals • Additional identifiable characteristics: • A periodical with a limited number of issues per year than magazines • Many sponsored by an academic organization • Little advertising other than for books • Generally lengthy articles 15-30 pages • Generally not available for sale at a newstand – subscription only • Many have names that include the words: • journal, quarterly, review, bulletin

  4. Peer Review / Refereed • Definition: • Blind-reviewed by experts who judge if the article or book provides an original contribution to the scholarship and merits publication • Examples: • American Historical Review • Journal of Popular Culture • William & Mary Quarterly

  5. Publication Cycle

  6. Knowledge Cycle Develop & Discuss Ideas Time Cycle Generalize &Formalize Report Research PopularizeResearch Publish Research

  7. Publications Cycle Knowledge Cycle Email, listservs,letters Develop & Discuss Ideas Encyclopedias, text books Time Cycle Generalize &Formalize Report Research Dissertations, conference papers PopularizeResearch Magazine articles, popular history books Publish Research Scholarly books and journal articles

  8. Access Cycle Google? Publications Cycle UW Libraries Catalog, guides to history research Knowledge Cycle Email, listservs,letters Develop & Discuss Ideas Encyclopedias, text books Time Cycle Generalize &Formalize Report Research Dissertations, conference papers PopularizeResearch Magazine articles, popular history books Publish Research Dissertation Abstracts Scholarly books and journal articles Indexes: Expanded Academic Index, Research Library; UW Libraries Catalog UW Libraries Catalog, indexes: AHL, HA

  9. Evaluating Secondary Sources Judging a book by it’s cover…

  10. Internal considerations • What is the author’s thesis? • Does the author situate his/her work in the large field of scholarship on this topic? • What evidence does the author use? • Types of sources • Appropriateness of sources to thesis/topic • Are the sources appropriately cited • Does the author make his/her case? • Is the article/book written well?

  11. External considerations • Who is the author? What else have they written? Are they an expert in their topic? • Check databases to see what else they’ve written • Search the web to find out where they’re working

  12. External considerations • Who is the publisher? Is it reputable? • Check the publisher’s website: • University press? • What other books does it publish? • For journals – is it peer-reviewed: • Publisher website • Directories: • Serials Directory • Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory

  13. External considerations • How do others view the book/article? • Book reviews • Expanded Academic Index • America History & Life • JSTOR • Is the book/article being used by other scholars? • Arts & Humanities Citation Index (part of the Web of Science database)

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