Assignments will require the use of different kinds of resources. For example, you may be required to use a monograph, a commentary, and a dictionary. This page defines these and other resources you may come across in assignment descriptions. Unless otherwise cited, these definitions come directly from Dr. Bill Nyman's Writing & Research Handbook, with some additional notes by this tab's creator. Terms are listed in alphabetical order.
ARTICLES or JOURNAL ARTICLES: An article published in a scholarly journal. The articles used for research should be peer reviewed. This means, that before publication the article has gone through a rigorous process where independent, impartial reviewers have assessed the content and have approved its publication. Articles can be found in scholarly periodicals and magazines. These periodicals are accessible in hard copy or on the databases available on-line. Articles deal with particular topics and are narrow in scope.
COMMENTARIES: A Bible commentary is a written systematic series of explanations and interpretations of scripture. Commentaries often expound on individual books of the Bible, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Some commentary works provide analysis of the whole of Scripture. These sources are often used when writing exegetical papers or comparison papers. Exegetical commentaries can also be used for research papers to gain a better understanding of certain verses of the Bible. For more information on commentaries, visit our Bible Commentary resource guide.
ENCYLOPAEDIAS and DICTIONARIES: A book or set of books that give(s) information on many subjects (called articles) or many aspects of one subject arranged alphabetically. The articles are generally written by different authors (found at the bottom of each article, generally after the bibliography used by the author). These give you a broad definition and a working knowledge of the topic and in may cases a bibliography that is useful to find more sources. Encyclopedias are also helpful to narrow down your topic. Most often encyclopaedias and dictionaries are considered reference items (marked with an R on the spine label) and must be used in the library.
GREY LITERATURE: According to SFU's research guide on the topic, "Grey literature is information produced outside of traditional publishing and distribution channels, and can include reports, policy literature, working papers, newsletters, government documents, speeches, white papers, urban plans, and so on" (McKenzie, 2022, para. 1). Grey literature can be more current than traditionally published or peer reviewed works, but this also means that its quality and/or reliability can vary. It therefore requires careful evaluation. Examples can include blogs, manuals, speeches, tutorials etc. For a more comprehensive list of examples visit Greynet and for more information on finding and evaluating grey literature, visit SFU's guide.
MONOGRAPHS: A written study on a single subject by one author. The quickest way to find out if a monograph is helpful, is to look at the table of contents in the front of the book and the subject index in the back. Monographs are not books with an editor that include a number of essays and/or chapters by different authors.
PRIMARY SOURCES: These sources are records of events or evidence as they are first described or actually happened without any interpretation or commentary. It is information that is shown for the first time or original materials on which other research is based. Primary sources display original thinking, report on new discoveries, or share fresh information. For examples of primary sources along with how to find them, visit the Primary Source tab on our HF 231/232: Western Civilization I & II resource guide.
SECONDARY SOURCES: These sources offer an analysis or restatement of primary sources. They often try to describe or explain primary sources. They tend to be works, which summarize, interpret, reorganize, or otherwise provide an added value to a primary source. The majority of the library's is secondary sources. Some secondary sources include primary sources in them. Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, edited works, articles, histories, literary criticism etc.
Reference
McKenzie, J. (2022). Grey literature: What it is & how to find it. https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/research-assistance/format-type/grey-literature