ENGL 427: Jane Austen

Once you've picked a research topic or question for your paper, it isn't set in stone. It's just an idea that you will test through exploratory research. This exploratory research may guide you into modifying your original idea for a research topic. Watch this video for help on navigating your way through the twists and turns of the research process.

How To Evaluate a Scholarly Book

There are several steps to consider when evaluating a scholarly book.  You may not be able to apply all of these questions when evaluating a book, but try to use many as you can

The Book:

• Does it have the depth you require?  
  • Look at the table of contents and the index to confirm the information you require is covered in the book
• Has the book been reviewed?

Find scholarly book reviews from library sources:

• Humanities Abstracts
• JSTOR
• Book Citation Index

• Is the information reliable?
• What perspectives in the book matter given? Or ignored?
• What was the editorial process?
• When was it published?  Is the information still relevant?

The Author:

• Is the author an expert in the field?
• What work or educational experiences does the author have?
• Is the author affiliated with an organization or company?
• Has the author written other publications?
• What is the author's motivation?

Find author information by "Googling" their name and locate their author's website.  It may be a personal website, or information provide by the publisher of their work(s).  Use library resources, such as Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors or Literature Resource Center.

Have your professors asked you for scholarly, academic, or scientific sources? Those are all peer-reviewed sources. What does THAT mean? Watch this video to find out.