alexander mack memorial library

Instruction Session- Covington ENG 101 Fall 09

Page history last edited by Cori Biddle 2 mos ago

Useful Eresources

Find links to these under the eResources 2.0 page

Remember that you can access all of our eResources off campus

Academic Search Complete

ARTstor

Encyclopedia Britannica

JSTOR

Literature Resource Center

Oxford Reference Online

Useful Reference Resources (Print)

The following are only an example the resources found in the library’s Reference section

American National Biography R 920.073 A5125 1999

American Writers R 810 A512 1996

British Writers R 820.9 B862 1984

Catholic Encyclopedia R 203 C493 1907

Contemporary Literary Criticism R 809.04 C761

The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science R 150.3 C826e 2001

Encyclopedia of Religion R 200.3 E561 2005

Masterplots R 808.8 M423 1996

Masterplots II: World Fiction Series R 808.8 M4232w 1987

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Economics R 330.03 M147 1994

Oxford Companion to Politics of the World R 320.03 O98 1993

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography R 920.041 O98

Twentieth Century Literature Criticism R 809.04 T971

Evaluation Criteria

Use these questions to tell whether a source is reliable

§ Who is the author of this information?

Does the author have any sort of authority regarding the topic? Why they are presenting this information? Be aware that the author might have some sort of bias or alternative goal of misinformation.

§ When was the information published?

If the information is a book or article, check the copyright date to make sure that the information is up to date. A good website always indicates when the page was last updated. Out of date information is just as bad as information that is completely false.

§ Where was the information located?

Check the type of book, magazine, or URL. A scholarly journal or book has stricter standards than popular books or magazines. If the website is affiliated with a recognized academic institution or organization, then it will usually be more trustworthy than a personal site.

§ Is the information accurate?

Does the author(s) provide a list of where they got their information? These lists allow you to verify their research, along with providing you with additional resources pertaining to your topic.

Popular VS Scholarly Sources

Usually you can look at the following areas to make your decision.

§ Publisher

Is the publisher a professional organization or association? Is the publisher affiliated with an academic institution?

§ Graphics

Are the graphics tables, diagrams or other illustrations which support the articles? Or are they glossy photos/illustrations that enhance the text?

§ Language

Is the terminology used in the titles or abstracts particular to that specific discipline? Or is the subject explained in common terms?

§ Authors

Does it list the authors’ credentials and affiliations with the profession? Or are the authors professional/ freelance journalists?

§ Citations

Is there a list of cited works at the end of each article?