Evaluating Books and Journal Articles
When conducting research for class papers and presentations, there are several criteria that you should apply to selecting materials. For information about distinguishing scholarly and popular resources, please consult the Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines page.
The following table will guide you in making this critical choice.
Examples and Explanations
Purpose of Book/Article
What is the author’s intent?
To prove a point or refute someone else’s?
To teach someone how to do something?
To entertain someone?
Recovering Biblical Manhood responds to feminist critiques of biblical gender roles.
Publisher
Is this published by a government agency?
Research Institute or Trade Group?
Vanity Press (Self-Published)?
Scholarly or Popular Press?
University, College, or Seminary Press?
Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers, 7th Edition, is published by a university press.
Bias/Theological Slant
Some publishers and authors have a bias and/or theological slant that affects the types of resources they will publish. While not necessarily a bad thing, researchers should take the bias/slant into account. Some research assignments might require students to research impartial, objective findings while others ask students to research a particular point of view on a topic.
Kingdom of Priests purports to take a conservative, evangelical perspective on O.T. historical accounts.
Bibliography
Is the bibliography comprehensive? Selective?
Are the citations current?
Does the author cite primary sources? Secondary sources?
Are the citations relevant to the content of the book/journal?
Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide has a 99-page bibliography consisting of books, scholarly journals, trade publications, and personal interviews.
Usefulness
Does the book/article cover the topic of your report?
Does it defend a position?
Does it reject another position?
Is it fact-based or opinion-based?
Wealth and Poverty in Early Church and Society would be an excellent resource for paper regarding the church’s effort to combat poverty around 300 A.D.
Author/Authority
What are the author’s educational credentials?
Does the authors have any distinguishing awards or honors?
Does the author have other publications?
Peter Berger has a doctorate in sociology and has published articles and books in the sociology of religion for four decades.
Coverage
What is the scope of the article?
A general overview?
A specialized examination?
A comprehensive examination?
A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament provides a general survey of O.T. scholarship
Audience
What type of audience does the author
intend to reach?
General readers and Laymen?
Undergraduate or Graduate Students?
Researchers in the Field?
Jesus According to Scripture is intended for an informed audience of pastors, theologians, and well-versed church laymen.
Illustrations
What is the implicit purpose of illustrations in a book?
To illustrate ideas or trends?
To entertain?
Are these illustrations professional?
Are the illustrations relevant or distract from the book’s purpose?
Fire From Heaven has four pages of illustrations that highlight the rise of Pentecostalism around the world.
Supporting the Library
Donations
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations to the institution are tax-deductible. The Goldberg library is actively soliciting donations of biblical and theological books and audio-visual materials. If you are interested in donating to our library, please contact the library staff at 704.334.6882 x104. For your convenience, a donation form can be completed and sent via email to the Library ([email protected]).
Library Wish List
The Director of Library and Archives maintains a wish list on Amazon.com of desired titles and equipment for the Goldberg Library. Please prayerfully consider blessing the library with these items. If you would like to honor someone through your gift, please inform the Director of Library and Archives so that she/he might send you a thank you letter and designate the honoree with a book plate.
Goldberg 1996 Library Club
The Goldberg 1996 Library Club is a tangible way to support God's work at Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary. The Library will develop the 1996 Library Club to attract donors to give via the library website. Donors will be encouraged to give $19.96 to commemorate the year the institution was founded. Donating to this fund supports the operating budget of the library. Moreover, it helps the library update its technologies, add quality books and media, and fund workshops hosted by the library staff. Please email the library ([email protected]) for more information about donating to the Goldberg 1996 Library Club.
We look forward to growing and evolving to meet the needs of current and future leaders of the church.
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