Essay Writing: Sources

Peer-reviewed Journals are the top level of research in terms of validity. Not all Academic Journals are peer-reviewed. (Sometimes "scholarly" can be used to mean peer-reviewed)

I should use peer-reviewed Journals (articles), if I want :

• information on issues of interest only to a narrow audience (scholars, people in a profession).
• information that has been thoroughly vetted by academic experts in that field of research
• articles written by scholars who have done extensive research.
• a focus on a narrow part of a larger topic.

Here's more information about how and why to use Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles.

Use this box to search for articles on your topic in Google Scholar.

Google Scholar can be a good source of scholarly journal articles.

Hint: If you find a link to an article in Google Scholar, but don't have access to the full text, try looking for that article in the databases. The databases offer full-text access to many articles not available elsewhere. 

I should use an Encyclopedia if I want :

• a short overview of my topic to scan for background information
• answers to specific factual questions
• information written by specialists who know their subject
• information that does not have to be very current (always check the copyright date of the encyclopedia)

The library provides access to high-quality, specialized Encyclopedia articles through the CREDO Reference Database.

(Many professors recommend that you start your research by reading an encyclopedia article on your topic to get an overview. Not a bad idea!)

I should use a book if I want :

• in-depth coverage on a particular topic.
• information written by specialists who have done extensive research
• information that does not have to be very current (always check the copyright date)
  • you want to look back on how your topic was discussed in the past (1980s vs. 2020s)
• information logically and coherently arranged with an index and a table of contents to help me

(You can't go wrong with a good, well-researched book on your topic.)

 Find books in the Library Catalog.

• Breaking news:
  • AP Top News
  • Google News Top Stories:
  • FINANCE: Bloomberg or Forbes or the Minority Business Development Agency
  • POLITICS: The Hill or C-SPAN 
  • TECH: The Verge or C|Net 
• Fact-Checking Websites:
  • Snopes
  • Politifact
  • Opensecrets.org 
• "Hot" topics and current events: 
  • Vox.com
  • Vice News Tonight
• Local news and information:
  • LoHud News (Westchester County)
  • Queens Gazette
  • Bronx Times
• World news:
  • BBC News World
  • Freedom Forum World News
  • United Press International

I should use the Internet if I want :

- information that is really hard to find anywhere else (for example: single-subject websites, like graphs.net for infographics, or childhealthdata.org for information on health issues affecting children).

- the very latest information on my topic (but I must always check the date posted, if there isn't one, proceed with caution!)

- opinions from different people or organizations about my topic (for example, ProCon.org for both sides of many current topics).

- a great variety of information from people, businesses, organizations, and even some reference books.

Be careful to evaluate any websites for quality (and validity) of the information they offer. In general, non-commercial websites (those ending in .edu or .org. or .gov, for example) will be more informative than commercial (.com) websites. This is a general guideline - Not a rule! 

(When you use the Internet, you should always try to find out who posted the information and how much they know about the topic. Are they experts in their field, or are they students? Are they giving facts or are they giving their own opinion? Does the website the information is posted on have a social or political agenda? Is this website information or "info-tainment")

*Source : Adapted from a guide developed by Connie Zack, Library Media Specialist, Cole Junior High, East Greenwich, RI.