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PS200 Politics of Africa: Searching

Create A Keyword List

Search effectively with the right keywords
   in catalogs, databases, and the Internet.

- Compile a list of keywords for each concept of topic.

  • Try the Search Generator (Northwest Missouri State University) to help you create a keyword search.

    - Use specific terms when searching databases versus catalogs.

    - Add additional terms from your search results to your list.

    - Search Google Books for keywords in the title, table of contents, subject headings, and text of books.

      You may need to do multiple searches (RE -search) in various databases.

      Scholarly v. Popular

      Video produced by Wayne State University Libraries.

      A Quick Guide to Evaluating Periodical Articles

       These criteria apply to all periodicals (online or print).

            Scholarly Articles:

       Popular Magazines:

       

      • Bibliography, footnotes, or endnotes.
        - evidence of research conducted
      • Written by expert(s) in the field.
         -         provides author’s credentials
      • Published by Associations, Research Institutes, University Presses.
      • “Peer reviewed.”
        -  the policy of experts examining article before acceptance for publication
      • Written in the jargon of the field
         - for scholarly readers (professors, researchers or students.)
      • Illustrations that support the text
         - tables, graphs, maps, photographs, etc.
      • No footnotes or references.
      • Written by journalists who are usually not experts in the field.
      • Easy to read. Intended for lay audience. Informative and entertaining.
      • Short articles.
      • Many advertisements throughout the magazine.
      • Glossy, slick. Illustrated with graphics and photos.
      • Unsigned articles

       

      What about other materials?

      Like critreia for evaluating periodicals, these are important criteria for internet pages and databases too.