COMM 200: Critical Thinking and Speaking

Find books and journal articles with UMD Discover on the Libraries' website:

lib.umd.edu

• Books are helpful for getting lots of information about different aspects of a topic, or to get ideas for research. You never have to read a whole academic book -- you can just look at specific chapters or sections!
• Academic journal articles usually go in-depth about one specific topic. They include studies, theoretical articles, book reviews, and other types. They will probably be less useful for your project, but they may dig deep into a specific person, or take a more theoretical look at how different narratives are created.

Like any type of media, academic sources might reinforce dominant narratives or challenge them.

• How does this source portray your hidden figure? Does it emphasize certain narratives?
• Who is the author, and what can you find out about them?
• What is the publication/publisher, and what can you find out about it?
• What citations or references support the author's claims?
• Can you find another source that represents a different perspective or emphasizes a different narrative?