WOMEN AND RELIGION Scott Cowan Dr. Heidi LM Jacobs

GOALS Know your librarian Have a basic understanding of research resources available Get a good start to your assignment Strap in and hold on!!

LET’S TALK RESEARCH….

MATCHING AN INFORMATION NEED WITH AN INFORMATION SOURCE

SOME SOURCES OF INFORMATION Critical Essays Reference Works Monographs Scholarly articles Contextual Studies Biographical studies

MONOGRAPHS “A scholarly book or treatise on a single subject, complete in one physical piece, usually written by a specialist in the field.” Comprehensive, covers many aspects of a topic Written by experts, edited by publishers Can take years to research, write, and publish

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES A self-contained nonfiction prose composition on a fairly narrow topic or subject, written by one or more scholars and published under a separate title in a collection or periodical containing other works of the same form.

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES Advantages Written by and for experts and scholars Often very specific and detailed Disadvantages Sometimes too specific for an overall picture of a particular topic

WHAT IS A REFERENCE WORK? A book [or electronic resource] designed to be consulted when authoritative information is needed, rather than read cover to cover

REFERENCE WORKS Excellent for context Excellent for tiny details Basic factual information Often written by top scholars in the field Almost always have suggested readings Incredibly useful Often provide excellent starting or middle places Examples: Guides, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries/Glossaries, Handbooks, Companions

ENCYCLOPEDIAS/DICTIONARIES

WIKIPEDIA – GOOD OR EVIL?? Who wrote it? Can report incorrect information (has a history of reporting wrong deaths/information Can be biased

Names Other Spellings Dates Places Synonyms Vocabulary Concepts Descriptions IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SEARCH TERMS

SEARCH HINTS  AND OR NOT  Truncations (*) finds all forms of a word  Example: econom * will find economy, economics, economical, etc.  Wild Cards (?, $)  Wom ? n will find woman, women  Behavio?r will also find behaviour  Phrase Searches  Use with two or more words in an exact order  Example: “World Series,” “Civil War”

ArticlesReferenceCatalogue

ASSIGNMENT – WOMEN & RELIGION “a wise woman whose life or work holds an honoured place in the field of women and religion.” A photograph or artistic rendering A brief biography Contributions to religious tradition Feminist analysis of her position Addressing the question “Does this woman occupy an empowered or oppressed position in history?” OR “Was/is this woman’s life expanded or restricted as a result of her religious commitments?”

ArticlesReference Catalogue

Articles Reference Catalogue

One of Two

ASSIGNMENT – WOMEN & RELIGION “a wise woman whose life or work holds an honoured place in the field of women and religion.” A photograph or artistic rendering A brief biography Contributions to religious tradition Feminist analysis of her position Addressing the question “Does this woman occupy an empowered or oppressed position in history?” OR “Was/is this woman’s life expanded or restricted as a result of her religious commitments?”

Two of Two

Articles ReferenceCatalogue

ASSIGNMENT – WOMEN & RELIGION “a wise woman whose life or work holds an honoured place in the field of women and religion.” A photograph or artistic rendering A brief biography Contributions to religious tradition Feminist analysis of her position Addressing the question “Does this woman occupy an empowered or oppressed position in history?” OR “Was/is this woman’s life expanded or restricted as a result of her religious commitments?”

ASSIGNMENT – WOMEN & RELIGION “a wise woman whose life or work holds an honoured place in the field of women and religion.” A photograph or artistic rendering A brief biography Contributions to religious tradition Feminist analysis of her position Addressing the question “Does this woman occupy an empowered or oppressed position in history?” OR “Was/is this woman’s life expanded or restricted as a result of her religious commitments?”

DEAD ENDS? Different Terms? Different resources? Different approach? Reword question? Broaden question? Narrow focus? Different source? Different database?

Thank You! Scott Cowan Dr. Heidi LM Jacobs Ext 3856 or