How do I find a classic or seminal article?

There are some options for locating classic works:
 

Look at the number of times an article has been cited.

You can do this using Google Scholar.  See our "Cited By" in Google Scholar help for more information.

Look for articles written by major theorists.

The Theories and Frameworks Guide can help you identify a theorist. Then do an author search in the library databases.

Tip: Classic works are ones that have had a major impact in a field of study.

It takes time to become a classic work. Most articles that are classic will be 10 years old or older.

Some hallmarks of classic works are:

• frequently cited by other authors

• written by major theorists or researchers

• often called influential, seminal or groundbreaking in literature reviews

More information:

• Is there a way to automatically connect the Walden Library to Google Scholar?
• Can I use a database to search for theories?
• How do I find books by an author?
• How do I find articles by an author?

Do you have other search questions?  Ask a Librarian!