Journal articles are usually laid out according to a set pattern which may include the following: abstract, introduction that includes context or background, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and a list of references. Analyse the abstract, introduction and conclusion in particular to get a quick overview of what the article is about. The author assumes you are already familiar with the topic so you may need to do extra reading to ‘catch up’ if you are not. The content is research based and very specific.
Textbooks contain vast amounts of information often on many aspects of a subject. Do not feel obliged to read a textbook from cover. Textbooks cover the basics you need to gain a grasp of a subject. They often have tables and diagrams to present information simply and visually. Use the contents page and index to find the specific sections you need.
These are books on a specific subject or topic which which might be very broad ranging, such as the history of sculpture in Greece from prehistoric times to the present day to the very specific such as the use of colour in Ancient Greek sculpture. Use the contents page and index to find the specific sections you need. In some disciplines e.g. Social Work you may need to use recently published books in others, such as Art History, books published fifty or more years ago may still contain important information. However, do check if there are any recently published journal articles. Ask your Tutor for advice.
Use dictionaries, encyclopedias and textbooks to familiarise yourself with the ideas and terminology and gain a quick overview of a topic.