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Latin American Media: MSP 0823

Research help for the course, MSP 0823: Latin American Media.

Why Use Journal Articles?

Note taking and highlighting journal articles by Raul Pacheco-Vega (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) https://flic.kr/p/ywhfPTJournal articles -- also known as "scholarly articles," "peer-reviewed articles," or "academic articles" -- are sources that are written and reviewed by scholars; this means the information is approved by other experts before publication.

When and Why You Should Use Journal Articles:

  • You need information that is based on research and expertise
  • You need in-depth analysis of a topic or a single case study explored in-depth
  • You need recent scholarly conversations about a topic
  • You need suggestions for additional sources (tip: look in the bibliography)
  • You need sources that are peer-reviewed

Remember: Journal articles can sometimes feel dense or intense. Look for visual cues (headings, sections, bullets, charts/graphs) within articles to help guide you to relevant information. Need help? Check out this Anatomy of a Scholarly Article tutorial.

Use the Library Search

Library Search is your gateway to discover books, journal articles, and much more at Temple University Libraries. Additional information can be found in our Library Search FAQ's.

Subject-focused Databases to Try for Academic Sources

These are subject-specific databases, meaning they contain sources focused on one discipline -- unlike the Library Search which contains many. For some researchers, searching in a subject-specific database is more efficient and less overwhelming than searching in the Library Search. You decide your preference.

How to Determine if the Article is Relevant

When choosing scholarly articles, consider some of the following:

  • Read the abstract, if it has one
  • Skim the introduction and conclusion, or if they are not marked off by headings, skim the first six or seven paragraphs and the last four or five
  • Skim for section headings, and read the first and last paragraph of those sections
  • Check the bibliography for titles relevant to your topic

Find the Full-Text

Can't Locate Your Article Online?

  • Use the Available online icon link found in the Library Search or the Example of Find Full Text iconbutton available from most other databases to locate the entire article online.
  • If your article is not available in print or via another research database, request it via ILLiad (interlibrary loan).

Videos on Search Strategies

Choosing Keywords

Putting Together Your Search Terms

Narrowing or Broadening Your Search