ENGL 303 Pruitt: Library Research Guide

Today we will discuss...

• Identifying popular science/technology publications
• Evaluating their evidence, style, and tone
• Using library resources to find scientific studies for your own argument

For your assignment, you will choose a popular science or technology publication and write your own article with the same evidence, style, and tone on a topic relevant to the publication's readership. 

Is a publication behind a paywall? Check to see if the library has a subscription! 

Consider the following questions when evaluating and immitating the style/tone of a popular magazine: 

• What are some of the topics covered in recent issues or on the homepage?
• Who is the target audience for this publication? What can you assume are some of their interests or hobbies?
• What did you notice about the style and/or tone of how articles are written for this publication?
• What kinds of evidence do authors typically use to support their argument?

Not all scientific research is publicly available. You'll need to use the library's databases to find peer-reviewed publications. These databases must be accessed through the library's website. 

Some top databases include:

It's okay to use Google Scholar too! Just be sure to add the UofL library link. 

Most academic journal articles go through the process of peer review. This ensure the quality and validity of articles before they are published. However, it's an imperfect process. Some articles may be retracted after peer review if there are errors or foul play. Here's a class example. There may also be controversy and conflicts of interest within the research community and public discourse, such as the current debate on the correlation between tylenol and autism. 

To evaluate an academic journal article, consider these three things:

1. The Author

• What institution are they affilitated with? 
• What is their reputation? 
• What are their areas of expertise? 
• How often have they been cited? 

2. The Publication

• What is thier review process? 
• Who is the editor and who is on the editorial board?
• What is their reputation? Do they have an h-index?

3. The Evidence

Some questions to consider when evaluating the evidence presented in an article include: 

• Do the methods align with their research questions or the purpose of the article?
• Do the references provide an adequate background to the topic?
• Are the authors interpreting their results logically?
• Is it possible that this information could be out of date?
• Do the authors call out any limitations about their own work?

Pick and consistently use a citation style. Some of the most common are: 

If you have questions about finding sources for your assignment, contact Tessa Withorn, Science Librarian. You can email (tessa.withorn@louisville.edu) or schedule an appointment.