RELG 263: Introduction to Islam (Zargar)

Scholarly books are important to the study of religion, so be sure to consult ALiCat and I-Share (you may even want to begin there). Augustana's book collection is constantly growing in the areas of Islamic studies that Augie students most frequently research; I-Share can get you whatever books you need that we don't have here.

Find the library's article databases in religion via this path:

• Library home page --> Under "Search for articles and databases," open drop-down menu --> Religion & Philosophy

Index Islamicus is the most important database for the study of Islam. It covers all aspects of Islam and the Muslim world, and everyone in this class can use it for their research. (Index Islamicus may not always have a link to the full-text of the article you want, but never fear; see the Where's the Full Text? section of this webguide for info on how to get the article!)

At the top of the list of religion databases you will see a link to Ebsco Databases in Religion. This allows you to select among several of the library's religion resources, or search two or more at once. The most relevant database for this class is: ATLA Religion Index, which is the library's most important general religion database. For this class, it will be a supplement to Index Islamicus.

The Encyclopaedia of Islam is another resource that most of you will find useful. Unlike many other encyclopedias, this one can be cited as a research piece in your paper. The EI is one of the most important sources for the study of Islam.

The Encyclopaedia Iranica (listed under "Web Resources" on the Religion & Philosophy page) is a peer-reviewed, multi-disciplinary Internet encyclopedia. It will be useful if you are researching a topic related to Iranian or Persian history or culture. Like the Encyclopaedia of Islam, the Encyclopaedia Iranica constitutes research in its own right and may be cited in your paper.

Finally, for additional journal articles you might also try JSTOR, a full-text journal archive that covers a large variety of subjects. Start at the Advanced Search, where you can limit your results to particular subject areas.

Where's the Full-Text?

Have you found a useful-looking article that isn't full-text in the database? Here's how to get a copy:

1. First, go to the library homepage and select "Journal & Magazine Title Search," under "Search for articles and databases." Search the title of the journal in which the article was published (not the title of the article itself!) to see whether the full text is available somewhere else in the library's collection.
2. If Augustana doesn't have the article you're looking for, click on "Interlibrary Loan" on the library home page to order it from another library. Interlibrary loan is free, and you'll usually get the article within a couple of days.

Need help with any of these steps? Ask a librarian! See the Questions? section of this research guide, below, for details.

Pew Research Religion & Public Life Project
This is the division of the Pew Research Center devoted to "issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs." The Pew Research Center is a non-partisan organization that "conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research." Particular reports that may interest you include:

• Pew's Religious Landscape Survey, about the demographic distribution, beliefs, and perspectives of U.S. religious groups, including Muslims.
• The 2011 report on American Muslims, specifically. This extensive report also links back to a 2007 report on the attitudes of Muslims in the U.S.

Religion is a particularly difficult subject to research on the web, because it gives rise to strong feelings and opinions. How can you distinguish the legitimate, well-researched sites from those that display an unsubstantiated bias?

It doesn't hurt to note the site's domain: .edu, .org, and .gov sites are, on average, more likely to be reliable than sites in many other domains. Don't stop at the domain, though! I've seen .com sites that are better than some .org's.

Next, look for a link (often in a menu near the very top or very bottom of the page) that says About or About Us. Read this page carefully to discover the site's affiliations and its creators' methods. If you do not see such a link, look for one that says "Who We Are" or "FAQ," perhaps.

Finally, review the site's overall content for tone, relevance, and, if applicable, recency. If you have any questions about a site's quality, a librarian will be happy to help.

Some of the news sources you consult may be on the web. Use the tips in the "Websites" section, above, to assess any news source you are not already familiar with.

Among the Augustana library's news databases, I recommend Newsstand Expanded and LexisNexis Academic (go to: Library home page --> Under "Search for articles and databases," open drop-down menu --> Databases A-Z). Newsstand Expanded offers up-to-the-present full-text coverage of major U.S. newspapers. LexisNexis has newspapers from across the U.S. and the entire world; it even has news transcripts from major television stations. LN can also provide a background description of any news source that is unfamiliar to you.

Cite your sources correctly according to either Chicago or MLA style. Online guides to both citation styles are available at the library's "Citing Sources" page:

• Library home page --> Citing Sources (in right-hand menu)

Librarians can help with the following:

• Developing and/or narrowing a research question
• Deciding which subject area(s) to browse for databases on the library website
• Choosing the best database(s) for your research
• Identifying keywords to search in the databases
• Citing your sources correctly

You are welcome to contact me with any questions about your research for this class. My email address is StefanieBluemle-at-augustana.edu, and I work at the research help desk (on 2nd floor by the elevators) off-and-on throughout the week.

Or, approach any Augustana librarian for help at the research help desk: in-person, or by phone (309-794-7206), email (libraryinfo@augustana.edu), or the "Ask an Augustana Librarian" chat box on the library's home page.