This document provides an overview of a library workshop on finding good sources for longform journalism. It discusses exploring library databases and curating sources on a topic. The workshop covers investigating sources by reading articles and discussing them in groups. It emphasizes searching strategically and reflects on potential biases. Tips are provided on search terms, scholarly sources, and tracking sources found. The goal is to help students identify and select high-quality sources for their research.

1. Longform, Good Sources
Nicole Branch
Santa Clara University
Image courtesy of Flickr user Jarle Refsnes

2. Today We Will
• Explore sources for longform journalism
• Critically examine library database search results
• Identify and select sources for your topic
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Barb Henry

3. Authority is constructed & contextual
Scholarship as conversation
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Magnus Hagdorn

4. Investigating Sources
• Read article
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5. Investigating Sources
• Read article
• Each group member pick a
source to investigate
• Discuss
• Report back
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6. Investigating Sources
• description of the content of the source & how it relates to the topic
• information about the publication/organization/site that produced the source
• author background
• intended audience
• role that the source is playing in the piece
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Barb Henry

7. Authority is constructed & contextual
Scholarship as conversation
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Magnus Hagdorn

8. Searching as strategic exploration
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Magnus Hagdorn

9. Image courtesy of Flickr user Christian Ostrosky
Identify a Database

10. Select a Database

11. Subject Bias
• Select database based on topic
• Search
• Reflect
• search engine/database used to find source & reason for selecting this search
tool
• search term(s) used
• summary of first 10 search results: what topics, sources, authors, views on
search term are included?
• Select one interesting source
• Describe source's position in search results
• Thinking back to Safia Noble, do you notice evidence of gaps or biases?
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12. Research As Inquiry
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Magnus Hagdorn

13. Getting to Good Sources
• Search tips
• Scholarly Sources
• Statista
• Google
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14. Tracking Sources
• Search Procedures
• search engine/database used to find source & reason for selecting this search tool
• search term(s) used
• summary of first 10 search results: what topics, sources, authors, views on search
term are included?
• source's position in search results
• Source Content & Characteristics
• description of the content of the source & how it relates to your research question
• information about the publication/organization/site that produced the source
• author background
• intended audience
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Barb Henry

15. Nicole Branch
Instruction Librarian
nbranch@scu.edu
x5436
Questions?