In academic articles, it can sometimes be difficult to identify when the author is stating a fact or providing an opinion. Luckily there are clues you can use to help you. Find out the key to recognizing when a statement is a fact, and when it’s an author’s interpretation, to help you select the best supporting evidence to include in your papers!
“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them” – Thich Nhat Hanh
In celebration of Diversity Month, we invite you to explore the rich cultural and personal experiences represented in our collections. Not sure where to start? Check out our featured book guide.
Books Unite Us: Censorship Divides Us
If you’ve ever read a book, chances are good that you have read a banned book. Books are banned for many reasons of often for multiple reasons; check out the list below and see if any of your favorites have been pulled from shelves and why. Or enjoy being a rebel and choose your next read!
Presence of Witchcraft
The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Dorothy travels to the land of Oz via tornado where she befriends a tin man, a scarecrow, and a lion.
The Witches by Roald Dahl
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches’ plot to destroy the world’s children by turning them into mice.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter discovers his magical heritage on his eleventh birthday when he receives an acceptance letter to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Offensive Language
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jay Gatsby orders his life in an attempt to capture the past.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Teen Holden Caulfield searches for truth after being expelled from school.
The Color Purple by Alice Waker
Teenaged Celie narrates her life as she is raised in an abusive rural home in Georgia.
Sexual Content
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Collection of short stories written in the 14th century continues to draw controversy for its language, sexual content, and religious commentary.
The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Follows the tale of a boy who moves to an all white high school from a Spokane Indian Reservation School.
Sometimes the best friend you can have seems more like an enemy at first glance. Have you cursed APA, MLA, or Chicago style as you are struggling to finish up a big paper? Find out why, once you get to know them a little better, style guides can make the research and writing process so much easier! For more information visit our Research Tips Thursday Guide
Tired of getting puppy-sized search results when you really need enough resources to satisfy a great dane? check out this week’s Research Tips Thursday for tips on broadening your searches. Image by: Brent Thomas (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0)