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ENGL 109: Premodern World Literatures (McNamer)

Spring 2023

Liaison Librarian

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Melissa Jones
Contact:
Research Consultations are available in person and via Zoom. Click Schedule Appointment to reserve a time. Email me if you need an alternate time.
202-687-7595

Finding Books

Pro Tip: The following are examples of subject headings that can be searched in combination the country name and/or  time period to find sources about the social and cultural history of a county.

  • Social life and customs
  • Social conditions
  • Manners and customs
  • Religious life and customs
  • Civilization

Background Information

Evaluating Wikipedia Pages

While it's important to evaluate all sources, it's particularly important to evaluate Wikipedia articles given the dynamic nature of the content and the uneven quality among articles. According to Wikipedia, "The ideal Wikipedia article is well written, balanced, neutral, and encyclopedic, containing comprehensive, notable, verifiable knowledge."

When reading a Wikipedia article for background information, keep the following criteria in mind. 

  1. Is the article "well written, balanced, neutral, and encyclopedic"?
  2. Are there any template messages posted at the top of or within the article that point to bias, unverified claims, or original research? These can indicate whether the article fails to meet Wikipedia's standards for a neutral point of view, verifiability, and no original research
  3. Has the article been designated as a good article or featured article?
  4. Are the assertions and facts included in the article backed up with sources?
  5. What types of sources are being cited? Are they appropriate for the type of information being presented?
  6. What grade has the article been given on its Talk page?

Read More on Evaluating Wikipedia Articles

 

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