Articles are edited for length, the goal being to provide students and other researchers with sufficient background information without overwhelming them. Undergraduates are rarely permitted to cite encyclopedia articles. Ask your professor if you plan to do so. The reason for this prohibition has to do with the function of reference works. Encyclopedias are best suited to providing background information rather than in-depth analysis or novel perspective.
The "conversation" among literary scholars and historians—or academics in any other discipline for that matter—does not occur within the pages or pixels of encyclopedia articles. Wikipedia is " written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world" and relies on the collective wisdom of its volunteers to get the facts right and to balance the opinions expressed.
Wikipedia, of course, can be very useful as a starting point for many topics, especially obscure ones or those with passing or popular interest. Wikipedia articles often reflect the enthusiasm of their anonymous author s for the subject.
Articles are sometimes too detailed , making it difficult for uninitiated readers to identify important themes. As with any other reference work, most faculty instruct students not to cite Wikipedia. But some faculty go further, advising students not to consult Wikipedia as a background source. The more criteria your resource has listed under the Scholarly Journals column, the more likely it will be a good, credible resource. Example Scholarly Journals:.
Example Popular Magazines:. It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results. Toggle navigation. Search this Guide Search. What Is a Primary Source? MLA Style 8th ed. What is a Scholarly Article? What is a Scholarly Source? Here are a few other tips about scholarly sources: Journal Articles Is the journal published by a scholarly association or society, or a university, or a recognized scholarly publisher?
If it is not one of these, then it may not be a scholarly journal. Refer to the aforementioned chart for evaluation criteria. Are the articles reviewed in some way? The print journal itself may have a statement in its title page, but sometimes the journal article may make mention of its reviewing policy. There may be some information. What are the articles like? Are they written for an academic audience, or for a popular audience? How do they use evidence or support? Are the citations clear and abundant in general - not every article will necessarily be like this.
Therefore, encyclopedias are reliable sources of information because they have been edited by experts in various fields. There are two types of encyclopedias: general and specialized subject encyclopedias. General encyclopedias, such as World Book, provide concise overviews on a wide variety of topics.
Specialized subject encyclopedias contain in-depth entries focusing on one field of study. For example, there can be an encyclopedia about animals or one about U. When do I use a general encyclopedia? Use a general encyclopedia when you need the following:. Where do I find a general encyclopedia? An encyclopedia can be in print, online, or both.
In print, it can be a single book or multiple volumes.
0コメント