Information Type Characteristics When to Use Reference Books General and subject-specific reference If you know very little about your provide brief overviews or topic, reference sources are an Includes: summaries on any given topic. They can excellent place to start research. Dictionaries include background information, factual Encyclopedias data, key ideas, important dates, and Handbooks concepts. Yearbooks Circulating Books Books typically provide an in-depth If you need: examination of any given topic, usually Includes: Historical and detailed information from a retrospective point of view. on a subject, such as the United Fiction Research-oriented books are works of States Civil War. Nonfiction non-fiction. Fiction works include To put your topic in context with novels, short stories, and poetry. other important issues. Several points of view in one book such as collected critical essays on Shakespeare’s works. Journal Articles Journal articles provide in-depth If you need: research on very specific topics. Journals Also known as: Scholarly articles or original cover a wide variety of disciplines. research, need to find out what has Peer-reviewed Articles are written by experts in the been studied on your topic, or need articles field and use vocabulary or jargon from references that point to other Refereed articles a particular field of study. In addition, relevant research. Scholarly articles articles usually have cited references that will point you to other relevant research. Journal articles tend to be lengthy and are typically published on a monthly or quarterly basis. Magazine & Magazine and newspaper articles If you need: provide up-to-date information on the Newspaper Up-to-date information about latest developments on various issues or Articles current issues, popular culture, or current events. Issues and events international, national and local Also known as: covered can be local, regional, national, events. Popular articles and worldwide. Articles are usually Various points of view or popular written by freelance writers and many opinions (e.g., editorials, times articles can be unsigned. Articles commentaries). are written for a general audience and contain simpler vocabulary. Articles tend to be short in length and are typically published on a daily (newspaper), weekly, or monthly basis. Created by Reynolds Community College Libraries. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License. Last updated 7/16/2018. Last reviewed 7/16/2018.
Information Type Characteristics When to Use Reference Books Includes: Dictionaries Encyclopedias Handbooks Yearbooks General and subject-specific reference provide brief overviews or summaries on any given topic. They can include background information, factual data, key ideas, important dates, and concepts. If you know very little about your topic, reference sources are an excellent place to start research. Circulating Books Includes: Fiction Nonfiction Books typically provide an in-depth examination of any given topic, usually from a retrospective point of view. Research-oriented books are works of non-fiction. Fiction works include novels, short stories, and poetry. If you need: Historical and detailed information on a subject, such as the United States Civil War. To put your topic in context with other important issues. Several points of view in one book such as collected critical essays on Shakespeare’s works. Journal Articles Also known as: Peer-reviewed articles Refereed articles Scholarly articles Journal articles provide in-depth research on very specific topics. Journals cover a wide variety of disciplines. Articles are written by experts in the field and use vocabulary or jargon from a particular field of study. In addition, articles usually have cited references that will point you to other relevant research. Journal articles tend to be lengthy and are typically published on a monthly or quarterly basis. If you need: Scholarly articles or original research, need to find out what has been studied on your topic, or need references that point to other relevant research. Magazine & Newspaper Articles Also known as: Popular articles Magazine and newspaper articles provide up-to-date information on the latest developments on various issues or current events. Issues and events covered can be local, regional, national, and worldwide. Articles are usually written by freelance writers and many times articles can be unsigned. Articles are written for a general audience and contain simpler vocabulary. Articles tend to be short in length and are typically published on a daily (newspaper), weekly, or monthly basis. If you need: Up-to-date information about current issues, popular culture, or international, national and local events. Various points of view or popular opinions (e.g., editorials, commentaries). Created by Reynolds Community College Libraries. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License. Last updated 7/16/2018. Last reviewed 7/16/2018.
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