Reading from the disciplines: arts
time to complete: 20 minutes
Task: Look at this academic article from Literature and use these questions to help you examine it.
General Information
- What journal was the article published in and what does this tell you about the type of information in the article?
- What is the title of the article?
- What are the authors’ (writers’) names and what information are you given about the authors?
- When was the article published?
- What are the keywords and how could they help you?
Article Structure
- What information does the abstract give you and why is this useful?
- How many sections are there in the article – what are these sections called?
- Are there any subsections? Why are subsections important?
Citations and References
- What is the difference between an in-text citation and a reference?
- How are the references organised?
Figures, Tables, Appendices and Acknowledgments
- How many figures and how many tables are there in the article?
- Is there an appendix? Is the information contained in the appendix important for your understanding of the article or does it just give you extra detail?
- Can you find the acknowledgment section? What does it do?
Now, compare your answers to those in the answer key below.
Answer key
What journal was the article published in and what does this tell you about the type of information in the article?
This article comes from the academic journal INTERLITTERARIA, volume 22 issue 1. It is addressing a specialized audience.
What is the title of the article?
The Credible Voice in Pedro Lemebel’s Oeuvre: Identity, Gender and Censorship
What are the authors’ (writers’) names and what information are you given about the authors?
The author is Alejandro Urrutia. Little information isprovided but we can easily see that he is affiliated to Avdelningen för humaniora Mittuniversitetet, in Sweden.
When was the article published?
It was published in 2017.
What are the keywords and how could they help you?
The keywords are modern Chilean literature; literature and performances; the idea of the author; gender; minority; narrative credibility. By looking at the key words in this article you can quickly see if it covers the topics you are interested in.
What information does the abstract give you and why is this useful?
The abstract briefly summarizes the content of the article. It explores the literary work Chilean writer Pedro Lemebel in relation to marginalised communities. The author of this article uses cultural narratology, queer theory and postcolonial studies to examine the figure of the author in relation to credibility.
How many sections are there in the article – what are these sections called?
There are 7 sections in the article: Abstract, Credibility construction, Credibility and the idea of author, Lemebel and Zajón de la Aguada, Summary and examples, Conclusion, Bibliography.
Are there any subsections? Why are subsections important?
There are no subsections, but just as the headings can help you quickly locate where the information you are looking for is, subsections can help you do so too.
What is the difference between an in text citation and a reference?
An in text citation tells you where the information comes from. The reference includes all the necessary details to locate the source where the information comes from.
How are the references organised?
In this case, references are alphabetically organised. However, please notice that each referencing system has its convention. When in doubt, check the library guidelines.
How many figures and how many tables are there in the article?
There are none.
Is there an appendix? Is the information contained in the appendix important for your understanding of the article or does it just give you extra detail?
There is no appendix in this article, remember that the appendix adds extra information.
Can you find the acknowledgment section? What does it do?
There is no acknowledgement section in this article.