Chicago manual of style, 17th ed. (2017) is a preferred style manual for academic research in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Use the online version, or the print version in Stauffer Reference (Ref Z253 .U69 2017). Chicago bibliography or name-date style examples below:
Consider these criteria in evaluating sources:
Level: Do you need an overview of principles, basic terminology, or details? Books and encyclopedias provide an introduction. Articles provide more focused analysis.
Authority: We construct authority as part of our academic culture. For example, peer-review is a mark of work that is acknowledged as authoritative. However, there are other forms of authority such as that of Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers, musicians, artists, and performers. Consider the context of the information to determine whether it can be deemed authoritative.
Context: In what context is the information written: historical, social, political, cultural, musical development, etc. You may be seeking information from multiple contexts.
Perspective: Whose voices are represented? A primary source presents information written by individuals from another time. Is it a secondary source written by a historian interpreting the past? Is it written by a member of the group under examination such as a specific Indigenous nation, types of musicians, or performers from a specific locale. For more: Cooke, N. A. (2017). Posttruth, truthiness, and alternative facts: Information behavior and critical information consumption for a new age. The Library Quarterly, 87(3), 211-221.
Also check: Evaluating Sources Checklist -- Scholarly and Popular Sources -- Evaluating Web Sources -- Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals.
Students are advised to book an appointment for one-on-one consultations. The Centre is located in the Stauffer Library as part of Queen's Student Academic Success Services (SASS), which also comprises Learning Strategies.
See the SASS links for Learning Topics and Writing Topics and Writing Handouts/Tip Sheets, and Writing Critical Book Reviews,
Reflection requires examing your thoughts, beliefs, values, attitudes and assumptions. See Reflective Writing (University of Leeds) and Reflective Writing (Royal Roads University).
Cowdery, James R., ed. How to write about music: the RILM manual of style, 2nd ed. New York: Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale, 2006. Music Ref. ML3797 .H69 2006
Gottlieb, Jane. Music library and research skills. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Music Ref. ML3797 .G68 2009
Holoman, D. Kern. Writing about music: a style sheet, 3rd ed. Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2014. Music Ref. ML3797 .W75 2014
Sampsell, Laurie J. Music research: a handbook. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Music Ref. ML113 .S28 2009
Wingell, Richard J., and Silvia Herzog. Introduction to research in music. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. Music Ref. ML113 .W564 2001t
Wingell, Richard J. Writing about music: an introductory guide, 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Pearson Hall, 2009. Music Ref. ML3797 .W54 2009